Story by Providence Maraneli
THE 11th edition of the National Disability Expo has kicked off in Gwanda as people with disabilities welcome the Second Republic’s inclusive development agenda.
While the field of mathematics has proved to be very complex and those who are good at it are regarded as geniuses, a Mnyabetsi Primary School teacher in rural Gwanda Mr Alphage Dube has defied the odds including disability after inventing a Cartesian Axis of Trigonometry machine to solve complicated mathematics questions.
Today, he is part of thousands of delegates who have thronged Phelandaba stadium in Gwanda to exhibit at this year’s National Disability Expo.
“Our education system has changed it is now inclusive and I am so grateful for the opportunity that I was accorded to invent this machine. This helps learners to solve and understand trigonometry equations and it involves the Sin, COS and Tan,” said Dube.
For others, the expo has demonstrated that the Second Republic is a people-centred government.
“As a group of women with disabilities we were given a fund through the Ministry of women affairs and now we are into manufacturing different jellies and it has transformed our lives,” said one of the exhibitors.
“I am a visual artist and I have been accorded to show my skills and I thank the government for showing us that inspire of being disabled we can do great things,” another exhibitor said.
The local leadership is convinced that the expo will demonstrate the government’s mantra of leaving non one and no place behind.
“All vulnerable groups in our societies should be taken aboard, their aspirations should not be taken for granted,” asserted Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Abedinico Ncube.
The government is committed to inclusive development as the country surges towards Vision 2030.
Director Office of the Special Adviser on Disability Issues Office of the President and Cabinet, Mr Macnon Chirinzepi reiterated, “Our President has said that no one should be left behind and people with disabilities are also included. We should make sure that in all the facets of life, we include people with disabilities and we will stand with them in everything.”
The National Disability Expo, which is expected to be officially opened this Friday runs from the 28th to the 30th of June.
