GWANDA — The participation of Nkomwa Foundation Trust (NFT) at the just-ended 68th Matabeleland South Agricultural Show has strengthened the organization’s call for disability inclusion to be treated not as a welfare issue, but as an integral part of Zimbabwe’s social and economic development.
NFT Director Dr. Pick Nkomwa said the three-day agricultural show, held under the theme “Unlocking Opportunities Through Collaboration,” demonstrated the importance of bringing different stakeholders together to create meaningful opportunities for persons with disabilities.
The annual event brought together businesses, farmers, government departments, civil society organizations and communities, providing NFT with a platform to showcase its work while engaging the public on disability rights, accessibility, skills development, assistive technology and economic empowerment.
Nkomwa said disability inclusion should ultimately result in a society where persons with disabilities enjoy equal rights and opportunities and are able to participate fully in community and national development.
“To Nkomwa Foundation Trust, disability inclusion means creating a society where persons with disabilities have equal rights, opportunities, participation and dignity,” he said.
“It is about removing barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing education, employment, skills, services and community development. Inclusion is important because persons with disabilities are not beneficiaries of development only – they are active contributors to the development of Zimbabwe.”
He said NFT regarded collaboration as a critical vehicle for breaking down barriers that continue to limit the participation of persons with disabilities.
The organization works with government departments, local authorities, development partners, private-sector players, civil society organizations, communities and persons with disabilities themselves to facilitate skills development, advocacy, digital inclusion, education, livelihoods, assistive technology and access to services.
“By bringing different stakeholders together, we are able to pool resources, knowledge and expertise and create opportunities that would be difficult to achieve alone,” Dr. Nkomwa said.
Through its programmes, NFT provides and facilitates opportunities in skills development, digital literacy, education, entrepreneurship, livelihoods, disability rights awareness, leadership and community participation.
Dr. Nkomwa said the organization’s approach was centred on empowerment rather than creating dependency among persons with disabilities.
“Our goal is not simply to provide assistance, but to empower people with disabilities to develop skills, become economically active and participate meaningfully in society,” he said.
The agricultural show provided a practical demonstration of that approach by placing disability inclusion within a mainstream platform traditionally associated with agriculture, business, commerce and community development.
For NFT, Dr. Nkomwa said, the major achievement was not merely exhibiting its programmes, but using the platform to connect with the wider community, potential partners and other stakeholders.
“The key highlight has been the opportunity to bring disability inclusion into a major platform where communities, businesses, government and other stakeholders come together,” he said.
“The Show has allowed NFT to raise awareness about disability rights, showcase our work and engage directly with members of the public and potential partners. Most importantly, it has reinforced our belief that when we collaborate, we create opportunities; when we include, everyone benefits.”
NFT’s participation builds on its broader partnership-driven approach. At the show, the organization demonstrated that disability issues can be incorporated into mainstream development conversations rather than being addressed in isolation.
Its earlier participation also highlighted collaborations with government ministries, disability organizations, development partners and private-sector players.
Dr. Nkomwa urged members of the public to change the way they perceive persons with disabilities, arguing that disability should not overshadow individual abilities, aspirations and potential.
“Do not see persons with disabilities only through the lens of disability. See their abilities, potential, ideas and contribution,” he said.
He called for greater support for inclusive education, employment, entrepreneurship and accessible services, while urging individuals and institutions to challenge discrimination and create avenues for meaningful participation.
“When we remove barriers and open doors, we build a stronger Zimbabwe where everyone has the opportunity to thrive,” Nkomwa said.
The message resonates with the broader thrust of the Matabeleland South Agricultural Show, where collaboration was placed at the centre of unlocking opportunities and advancing development. For NFT, however, the challenge now extends beyond the exhibition grounds – to ensuring that the partnerships, conversations and opportunities generated at such platforms translate into sustained participation and economic empowerment for persons with disabilities across Zimbabwe.
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