Colleen Chitsa
Government recently donated 10 wheelchairs to Masvingo province to People with Disabilities (PWDs) in fulfilment of last year’s initiative where the province was set to receive the wheelchairs.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at Masvingo Civic Center on January 31, the Director in the office of Special Advisor to the President on Disability Macnon Chirinzepi said the president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s donation was a follow-up to last year’s Zimbabwe National Disability Expo which was held in Marondera and every province was given 10 wheelchairs.
“We conducted our disability expo last year in Marondera which ran under the theme, ‘A participatory and inclusive society which leaves no one behind’, where the President donated wheelchairs to all provinces in the country and Masvingo is the 6th province now.
“We are moving around all the provinces meeting persons with disabilities just to hear their concerns, grievances and needs in terms of issues related to disabilities that can help us review our polices relating to inclusion of PwDs,” said Chirinzepi.
He also said the main goal of the initiative was to make sure that those with disabilities and mobility challenges can move from one point to another.
“People with disabilities usually face challenges in accessing infrastructure, transport, public premises or some offices and this initiative is aimed at making sure that they can easily access those services and can be able to take part in the society.
“It is really a concern when PwDs are unable to access their services hence we are looking at accessibility even in communication formats, issues relating to Braille, sign language in our communication platforms, large print so that PwDs are not left behind,” he added.
One of the recipients, a mother with a disabled child said receiving the wheelchair had lifted a burden off her shoulders.
“It has been very difficult for me to carry around my daughter everywhere because she cannot move on her own,” she said.
Fana Gwara who also received a wheelchair was very ecstatic because he had borrowed the one he was using and it was now very old.
“The wheelchair that I was using is not even mine and it is very old so it was not easy for me to move from place to place with it,” Gwara said.
