Story by Tamuka Charakupa
PEOPLE with disabilities in Norton are set to benefit from mainstream mining activities following the availing of mining claims dedicated to their empowerment.
It was all joy for people with disabilities in Norton this Saturday as they received a mining claim ceded by the National Organisation for Development and Empowerment (NODE).
“As people with disabilities, we are hardworking people, but most of the time we lack the necessary tools to drive meaningful development. We are all limited by the extent of our disabilities. However, the mining claim that we have been given will ensure that we fund and implement other projects that we may have.
“We are in the process of building a disability centre which will be able to offer a disability-friendly learning environment which can accommodate our different special needs,” Norton Support Group for the Disabled coordinator, Ms Sharai Makota said.
“Just last week, we commemorated the International Albinism Awareness Day where we received various forms of support for people with albinism. Today, we have witnessed another milestone development, the handing over of a mine claim which means we have been given a fishing rod and not a fish,” Albinism rights advocate Marston Kanhimbe said.
Speaking to ZBC News, NODE president, Cde Office Blant
described his organisations’ gesture as a response to the call to action targeting inclusive development.
“As NODE, we are walking in the shadows of our President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa who preaches inclusive development that of leaving no one and no place behind. We have handed over a mine claim but we have also brought a consignment of clothes so that we help our fellow relatives who might not have enough warm clothes to put on this winter,” he said.
The Second Republic is pushing inclusive development under the, ‘leaving no one and no place behind’ mantra.
