Branton Matondo
MUTARE-Civic Society Organisations from Manicaland recently conducted a workshop aimed at ensuring inclusion of People with Disabilities (PwDs) as well capacitating non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) sector on how best to handle issues around people with disabilities.
Disability inclusion has been one of the focal points in the drive to deal with segregation of disability organisations and movements.
The training, held at Presbyterian Church in Mutare on April 28, 2023 was earmarked on capacitating CSOs in Manicaland in the area of disability inclusion along with National Association for Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) thematic areas.
NANGO Provincial Coordinator Frank Mukwavaira said disability inclusion is a cross cutting issue that has respects on human rights.
“NANGO carries under its wings an amalgamation of various issues, constituencies and representative groups all with the singular focus of meeting the developmental needs of men, women and children in Zimbabwe. To achieve this, the association has its membership segmented into 10 different thematic sectors including Disability, as one of the cross cutting sectors,” said Mukwavaira.
He said sustainable development of human rights have over the years translated to disability inclusion.
“Mainstreaming human rights-based approach to disability, in combination with targeted measures, will then make the concerns and experiences of persons with disabilities an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all developmental spheres. It was against this background that CSOs within the NANGO Eastern Region in Manicaland province convened for a CSO Disability Training for Civil Society Organizations, facilitated by the Federation of Organizations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe (FODPZ).
“This was also aimed at learning on how to integrate disability inclusion across all sectors to ensure that CSOs inculcate provisions to accommodate PwDs in their programming including the correct terminology as well as right approaches and responsibilities of all stakeholders,” he added.
Mukwavaira added that NANGO remains steadfast on following National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1) which also preaches the gospel of inclusivity.
“Disability inclusiveness therefore requires placing PwDs at the centre of any CSOs response, without discrimination, to ensure that they have equal and meaningful access, both in terms of protection, assistance as well as participation in decision making processes.
“NANGO remains committed to complement all efforts in line with the country’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on ‘leaving no one behind and to reach those furthest first’,” Mukwavaira added.
Quizzed on how important it is to capacitate CSOs with relevant Disability Inclusion programmes, Mhakwe Heritage Foundation Trust Director David Mutambirwa said there is already a gap that needs to be filled when it comes to issues of including PwDs.
“There is a gap on inclusion of people living with disabilities in programming from inception, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. As civil society, we have a propensity to think for them rather than getting it from them. I personally have a problem with the terms consult and participation. Many times these terms are used for cosmetic purposes,” said Mutambirwa.
The workshop was attended by 38 participants from across the civic society sector.
