BY RICHARD SHUMBA
St. Daniels Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Centre Director, Petty Musekiwa, has called on Zimbabweans to strengthen disability inclusion across all sectors as the world commemorates the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).
The commemorations ran under the theme “United in Action to Rescue and Achieve the SDGs for, with, and by Persons with Disabilities.”
Speaking during the Commemoration at the St. Daniels Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Centre, Musekiwa emphasised that disability inclusion is not charity but a matter of justice, dignity, and national progress.
Musekiwa said the annual commemoration serves as a powerful reminder that people with disabilities must be at the centre of development efforts.
“People with disabilities are not passive recipients of growth; they are leaders, innovators, and active members of society. When we design policies and services without their input, we limit our own national potential,” she said.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992 to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities worldwide.
Over the years, the day has grown into a global platform for governments, organisations, and communities to reflect on disability inclusion, advocate for equal opportunities, and measure progress on accessibility, participation, and human rights.
It also reinforces commitments made under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the principle of “leaving no one behind.”
Musekiwa noted that Zimbabwe, like many countries, still faces gaps in education, healthcare, transport access, employment, and social protection for people with disabilities.
“If disability inclusion remains on the sidelines, Zimbabwe will struggle to achieve the SDGs,” she warned.
She added that true progress requires involvement from all sectors, including churches, community leaders, businesses, families, and government ministries.
She reiterated that at St. Daniel’s Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Centre, inclusive practice is already part of daily work.
Musekiwa highlighted the resilience of children learning communication skills, the determination of parents, and the growing awareness within communities that inclusion benefits everyone.
The centre continues to expand its programs in community-based rehabilitation, respite care, vocational training, and advocacy.
“As St. Daniels grows, we reaffirm that the voices and rights of people with disabilities will shape every program; a disability does not mean inability; every child deserves a place to grow, dream, and participate fully,” she said.
