By Staff Reporter
GWANDA — Communities in Gwanda Rural District have been urged to move beyond sympathy for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and take concrete steps to remove the barriers that prevent them from participating fully in society.
The call was made during disability sensitisation programmes conducted by Nkomwa Foundation Trust (NFT), in partnership with World Vision, in Ward 7 and Ward 16 on 23 and 24 September 2026.
The outreach programmes, supported by the Department of Social Development and Gwanda Rural District Council, brought together persons with disabilities, caregivers, community leaders and other community members.
The sessions sought to help communities understand disability from a rights-based perspective while addressing misconceptions, negative attitudes and physical, social and institutional barriers that continue to limit the participation of persons with disabilities in community life.
Key issues discussed included the definition and types of disability, appropriate disability terminology, barriers to participation, legal and policy frameworks, disability rights and gender-based violence (GBV).
NFT Executive Director Dr Pick Nkomwa commended the strong community participation and World Vision’s continued partnership with the organisation in advancing disability inclusion.
“I am so humbled by the willingness of our communities to attend these informative sessions. I further applaud our partner, World Vision, for its willingness to strengthen our five-year partnership in disability programming. Collaboration is vital if we are to achieve meaningful and sustainable disability inclusion in our communities,” said Dr Nkomwa.
He said disability should not be approached primarily through charity or pity, but through the principles of rights, dignity, equality and inclusion.
Dr Nkomwa challenged communities and institutions to examine whether their practices genuinely enable persons with disabilities to participate meaningfully in decisions and activities that affect their lives.
“Simply inviting a person with a disability to a meeting, for example, does not necessarily constitute meaningful participation if that person cannot access the venue, understand the information being presented or influence decisions,” he said.
He said meaningful inclusion required communities to identify and dismantle physical, social, attitudinal and institutional barriers that restrict persons with disabilities.
Dr Nkomwa also stressed the importance of involving persons with disabilities in decisions affecting their lives, saying the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us” should remain central to disability-inclusive development.
The sessions also addressed gender-based violence, with participants highlighting the need for greater community awareness, stronger protection mechanisms, accessible reporting systems and appropriate support services for persons with disabilities.
The involvement of community leaders was identified as particularly important in ensuring that disability inclusion moves beyond awareness campaigns and becomes integrated into local development planning and community action.
The outreach concluded with a call for communities and institutions to change the way they approach disability by focusing on removing barriers, protecting rights and creating opportunities for meaningful participation.
“Persons with disabilities do not need pity. They need barriers removed, rights respected, opportunities created and their voices included. Stop feeling sorry. Start removing barriers,” Dr Nkomwa said.
