The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
SELF-RELIANCE projects training for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) will promote their empowerment, while supporting expanded, inclusive and sustainable economic opportunities for the key constituency, a local organisation has said.
In an interview on the sidelines of the second phase of self-reliance projects training done at a local church recently, Tariro Foundation of Zimbabwe Trust director, Mr Godfrey Dzveta said empowering PWDs promotes inclusivity, thereby increasing their contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
A total of 40 PWDs and caregivers from across Mutare District were equipped with business and record keeping skills.
They were also equipped with skills on how to make detergents, floor polish, soap and other household goods.
“The view is to promote the empowerment of people with disabilities through skills training that enhance self-reliance. The major objective is the promotion of participation of people with disabilities at all levels of governance. We do that by starting from the grassroots and empowering our people.
“By doing so, we are building disability champions who work closely with the community and refer other PWDs to the rightful services,” he said.
He also said another key enabler to inclusion of PWDs is addressing the gap of access to information, infrastructure, health and other services, while calling for increased efforts to ensure their active participation in all spheres of life.
Mr Dzvete said they also advocate for disability rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the United Nations Charter on The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
After the training, participants received start-up kits for their new projects.
During the first phase, people from across several districts in Manicaland were trained.
One of the participants, Mr Passmore Mwedzi said they are grateful to the organisation for equipping them with business skills as well as how to record the day-to-day sales.
“As an individual, I need stability. While the best capital that one needs is the idea to start a business, we have also received starter kits which we will use to kick-start our businesses. We will be self-reliant from now onwards and not be a burden to the community.
“As PWDs, we have always been yearning for participation and inclusion. We will be participating in different business activities because we are now businesspeople.
“What is now needed is for us to embrace teamwork to excel,” he said.
Another participant, Ms Loina Chidhuku of Gombakomba said the training will help them to be self-reliant.
She, however, said there is need for the community at large to be sensitised on the importance of inclusion of PWDs in decision making positions.
She said as a caregiver, the projects will help her to finance the special needs that her granddaughter has, while having enough money left to look after the rest of the family.
