Story by Fungai Jachi
VICE President Colonel (Rtd) Dr Kembo Mohadi has reaffirmed the Second Republic’s commitment to inclusive development as the country journeys towards Vision 2030.
The Vice President, who was representing President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, was speaking at the official opening of the sixth edition of the National Disability Expo at Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo this Friday.
He emphasised the importance of leaving no one behind in the country’s development agenda, calling on businesses to create opportunities for persons with disabilities.
“Disability inclusion is a cross-cutting priority under NDS2 and remains integral to our national aspiration to achieve an empowered upper-middle-income economy by 2030. The strategy recognises that sustainable development can be achieved only when all citizens, including persons with disabilities, actively participate in economic growth, social development and national governance.
“This year’s theme, ‘Embracing Disability Inclusion in All Sectors: A Masterstroke for National Prosperity and Economic Development,’ aligns closely with our national vision and development philosophy. It recognises that societies prosper when every citizen can contribute meaningfully to national development, regardless of disability, gender, age, geographical location or socio-economic status. Indeed, disability inclusion is not solely a welfare issue. It is a strategic development issue that directly contributes to economic productivity, innovation, social cohesion and national competitiveness,” he said.
He added that economic empowerment remains central to achieving genuine inclusion.
“Through various Government initiatives, persons with disabilities are increasingly participating in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, commerce, and innovation and technology development. This participation contributes not only to individual livelihoods but also to national productivity and economic growth. The success of our disability inclusion agenda depends on a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society Approach.
“The government alone cannot achieve these objectives. We require strong partnerships among public institutions, local authorities, the private sector, academia, development partners, faith-based organisations, civil society, and organisations of persons with disabilities.
“Most importantly, persons with disabilities must be active participants and leaders in decisions that affect their lives. Their voices, experiences and aspirations must inform policy design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Nothing about persons with disabilities should be decided without their meaningful participation. As a nation, we must continue to cultivate a culture of respect, tolerance, inclusion and Ubuntu. We must reject all forms of discrimination, stigma and exclusion that hinder the full participation of persons with disabilities in society,” VP Mohadi said.
Others stressed the need for stakeholders to work together to ensure inclusivity.
“We shall continue to put in place policies that uplift persons with disabilities so that every institution creates space for PWDs,” Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Honourable Edgar Moyo said.
“As a province, we are working to ensure that our facilities and programming are inclusive as we move together to achieve Vision 2030,” Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution-Masvingo, Honourable Ezra Chadzamira weighed in.
“We are grateful that we are seeing improvements as persons with disabilities. We are confident that as we continue this journey, we will reach total inclusivity,” Persons with Disabilities representative in Senate, Senator Annah Shiri noted.
Vice President Mohadi also handed over mining and farming equipment, farms, residential stands, and goats, among other things, to persons with disabilities.
He also commissioned empowerment projects at Jairos Jiri Centre, which include a business unit and aquaculture and planted a tree at the institution.
As the 2026 National Disability Expo ends, the government’s message is clear: inclusion is not charity; it is development.
