Story by Tichaona Kurewa
VICTORIA FALLS – THE National Disability Expo has officially opened in Victoria Falls, with both government and persons with disabilities expressing satisfaction with the knowledge shared and the quality of exhibitions on display.
This year’s edition has attracted more than more than 300 exhibitors, including international participants, making it arguably the largest expo to date.
The event is hosted on a rotational basis across provinces, with Matabeleland North Province playing host this year after Mashonaland Central in the previous edition.
Attendees with disabilities described the expo as a valuable learning experience.
“I am a disabled lady in the fruits drying business, I learnt a lot from others who do the business of drying fruits and also learnt new skills that I will do back home,” an attendee said.
“I am happy to be a beneficiary of the pig project where I was given a pig to start my project. I am looking forward to starting my own piggery project,” another noted
Representing people with disabilities, Senator Ishmael Zhou confirmed the transformative nature of the expo over the years.
“The event has been evolving and devolving, it is bringing change into our lives. The expo has transformed from a whole government approach to a community approach and we learnt a lot.”
Officially opening the expo, Vice President (Colonel) Kembo Mohadi implored all sectors of the economy to create a disability-friendly environment.
“I urge all stakeholders to focus on tangible practical measures that improve the lives of persons with disabilities. Words without actions are useless, just like faith without works is dead. The visibility, sensibility and audibility of Persons with Disabilities, in all sectors of development, is the hallmark of a progressively disability-inclusive society. A disability-inclusive society is the epitome of the Zimbabwe we all want and envisions people who are fully empowered and prosperous,” he said.
The Zimbabwe National Disability Expo continues to serve as a platform for advocacy, collaboration, inclusion, and participation of persons with disabilities across all development sectors.
Meanwhile, people with disabilities have received a donation of 20 tonnes of rice, 50 goats for the Presidential Goat Scheme, 50 pigs for the Presidential Piggery Project, 10 incubators for the Presidential Roadrunners Contract farming, provincial production hubs and several assistive devices, which will be distributed to all the 10 provinces in the country.
The City of Victoria Falls also donated 15 housing stands to people with disabilities.
These interventions are aimed at strengthening empowering and improving livelihoods across the disability community nationwide.
