Godfrey Mtimba
Masvingo—When President Emmerson Mnangagwa came to power after the 2017 military assisted takeover from the late Robert Mugabe, he introduced his much-touted mantra, “Leaving No One, No Place Behind.”
This slogan was a sweeping promise to the nation, pledging inclusive programmes that would ensure everyone’s participation in national processes to achieve socio-economic and political development.
Subsequently adopted with gusto by government ministries and departments, the mantra has since become a recurring refrain.
However, for vulnerable groups such as Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), the slogan is ringing hollow, with many feeling sidelined and excluded from national programmes.
Despite government assurances, PWDs continue to face significant barriers in accessing basic rights such as education, healthcare, land, food, and participation in national processes.
In Masvingo, vulnerable PWDs shared their frustrations with News Hub, highlighting the systemic challenges they endure.
For many, accessing education remains a daunting task.
Most schools lack essential facilities such as ramps for wheelchair users, hearing aids for the deaf, braille materials for the visually impaired and teachers trained in sign language.
Arnold Mugabe, a wheelchair user from Chivi rural district, lamented the lack of infrastructure, which forces many to drop out of school.
“Accessing education is a very big challenge for us. Our schools here don’t have facilities to allow us to learn properly.
“They don’t have ramps with wheelchairs and crutches, hearing aids and brails for the blind so we end up staying at home,” said Mugabe.
Similar challenges plague healthcare access. Many health institutions lack ramps, elevators for wheelchair users, braille materials, hearing aids, and staff trained in sign language, making it difficult for PWDs to receive treatment.
Emely Sibanda, a visually impaired resident of Mucheke high-density suburb, recounted the discrimination she faced at healthcare facilities.
“Despite lack of facilities, we face discrimination. Some nurses and health workers use bad language and laugh at us when we seek treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. They say ‘Zvirema zvinodawo zve bonde (“So even PWDs also take pleasure in indulging in sexual activities),” she said.
“Some end up deciding not to visit hospitals and lose their lives,” added Sibanda.
PWDs also report exclusion from national programmes such as food aid and agricultural input distributions.
Gladys Maringire from Mwenezi accused traditional leaders and councillors of deliberately omitting PWDs from distribution lists in favour of their relatives and friends.
“I was left out when food aid was being distributed and they did the same during the presidential inputs distribution because of my disability.
“This happened to my other colleagues, the village head and councilors did not include us on their lists despite seeing that we are vulnerable,” lamented Marangire.
These challenges persist despite the government’s repeated assurances of inclusivity.
Disability rights groups argue that the “Leave No-one Behind” mantra has become a mere political slogan.
Henry Chivhanga, director of Disability Amalgamation Community Trust (DACT), criticised the government for failing to uphold its promises.
“This inclusiveness mantra has turned out to be a blank political statement from high offices to lower government tiers.
“PWDs continue to suffer in silence from discrimination and lack of access to basic needs, despite repeatedly unfilled promises that no one will be left behind,” said Chivhanga.
He added that PWDs’ rights were routinely violated, despite existing policies and laws designed to protect them.
Zimbabwe adopted the National Disability Policy in 2021 and is currently amending the Disability Act through the Persons with Disabilities Bill in Parliament.
Sections 22 and 83 of the constitution mandate the government to protect the rights of PWDs, including ensuring accessibility to public buildings.
“The state and all institutions and agencies of government at every level must, within the limits of their resources available to them, assist persons with physical or mental disabilities to achieve their full potential and to minimize disadvantages suffered by them,” reads Section 22.2.
The same section also directs government to ensure that all buildings are accessible to the disabled.
“The state must take appropriate measures to ensure buildings and amenities to which public has access are accessible to persons with disability,” reads Section 22.4.
Despite all these provisions in the supreme law of the land, PWDs in Masvingo continue to face challenges in accessing public buildings.
In Masvingo, only one public structure, Zimre Building, is equipped with elevators suitable for wheelchair and crutch users.
Other high-rise buildings, including the Benjamin Burombo Building, which houses provincial government departments, and the office of Masvingo minister of State, Ezra Chadzamira, lack such facilities.
Admore Pazvakavambwa, permanent secretary for the Masvingo minister of State, defended the government’s efforts, claiming that PWDs are included in all government programmes, including food aid, educational support, and healthcare initiatives.
“In Masvingo, we have heeded calls from our president to be inclusive and never to leave any one or no place behind.
“We are including PWDs in every programme in the health sector, education and other programmes like food aid and inputs schemes. We have instructed leaders to begin with registering PWDs in all projects, hence we are doing a lot,” Pazvakavambwa said.
Despite Pazvakavambwa’s claims, disability rights groups argue that PWDs remain neglected.
Some organisations have stepped in to fill the gap, offering training, self-help projects, and educational and healthcare support.
Last week, the Albino Trust of Zimbabwe (ATZ) provided free sunscreen lotions and glasses to persons with albinism and visual impairments in Masvingo.
ATZ director, Bruce Nyoni said the initiative aims to assist vulnerable PWDs who struggle to afford basic healthcare.
“We have done this in Gweru and here in Masvingo. Next week, we will go to Bulawayo and we will do the same in all provinces. Our objective is to help the vulnerable who can hardly afford medical care,” said Nyoni.
According to DACT, 80 percent of Zimbabwe’s estimated two million PWDs live in abject poverty and are unable to afford basic necessities, education and healthcare.