GWANDA town will between June 28 and 30 be a hive of activitt, when people with
disabilities drawn from around the country will converge at Phelandaba Stadium for the
National Disability Expo.
The expo, expected to put Matabeleland South in the spotlight, will create trade links,
smooth networking platforms and growth in the business sector for people with disabilities.
The mining town will also enjoy brisk business courtesy of the three-day assembly during
which the expo delegates will shop around for daily necessities during their stay,
In a press-release on the programme of the expo, the Special Advisor on National Disability
Issues in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Joshua Malinga, said the expo will
empower and compliment the inclusive environment for people with disabilities.
The Expo will run under theme, 'Holistic Empowerment of Youth and Children with
Disabilities Towards the attainment of vision 2030. A better and brighter future for
everyone.
The expo will give people with disabilities a platform to exhibit talents, products and
technology, explained Malinga.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to grace the occasion, said Malinga.
In recent times, people with disabilities (PWDs) were left behind in socio-economic
development.
But the Government's blueprint which emphasises inclusivity has seen PWDs enjoying equal
rights in every sector of society.
Nkomwa Foundation Trust Director, Pick Nkomwa, said the expo is a good music to the ears
of local Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (OPD), who have eagerly waited for such
an opportunity.
"Its a privilege and honour for our rainbow province to host this occasion. As an
organisation, we utilise this time to the fullest with our patrons showcasing their wealth in
cultural and economic walks of life. Our patrons are already all set to deliver spectacular
performance. I urge and invite fellow colleagues to support us and ensure that our flag flies
beyond the sky, he said.
Matabeleland South Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Latiso
Dlamini-Maseko, said preparation were at an advanced stage and that the organising
committee will ensuring that there will be a smooth flow of all activities during the expo.
The expo resonates well with the Government's mantra of leaving no one and no place
behind, by creating a holistic and inclusive space for every community, as the country
journeys towards the attainment of an upper-middle income economy society by 2030.
The province with a population of 760 345, according to the Census Population [2022],
covers over 54 125 km2 and is regarded as a rainbow province because of the large number
of local languages spoken in the province.
Venda, Ndebele, Sotho, Kalanga, Shona, Tshifhumbi, Tshangani are spoken in Matabeleland
South, where dialects of Shona, namely Karanga and Zezuru are found in pockets of the
province bordering South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana.
