FODPZ solidarity statement on the 2nd anniversary of Nkomwa Foundation Trust

Nkomwa Foundation Trust is one of the youngest members of the Federation of Organizations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe. Having been registered in October, 2020, today marks a milestone for this youthful, yet dynamic, and passionate organization.

FODPZ, which is an umbrella body for Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), values and recognizes all its 37 members across the country. Although we have members that are mature of age in terms of registration, over the past 9 months, we have observed, with great pride, the plethora of achievements that have been accomplished by Nkomwa Foundation Trust. Our mandate as FODPZ is to lobby and advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as to bring together and amplify the unified voice of member OPDs. Nkomwa Foundation Trust has seamlessly worn the shoes of being in the disability movement, and albeit being young in registration age, has become a force to reckon with. NFT has passionately taken up the task to cascade the FODPZ training material on disability sensitization, lobbying and advocacy, legislative frameworks and policy processes, safeguarding communities, and particularly, persons with disabilities, to the Gwanda community, targeting government stakeholders, Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Traditional Leaders, the Academia, and the communities at large. The work that NFT is highly commendable, and they are an epitome of the envisioned disability movement. Indeed, they are young in age, but their heart is warm, big, and certainly, full of surprises!

Notably, the following are some of the achievements of NFT over the past 9 months:

1. Collaborated with traditional leaders towards sensitization on disability issues, mitigation of harmful practices and Gender Based Violence (GBV).
2. Distributed assistive devices and technologies (such as Wheelchairs, Crutches, and Sunscreen lotions) to Gwanda and Marondera communities, entailing that they are fast growing into a national, and not a regional giant!
3. Commissioned a sign language training workshop to Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnical College staff members, and also took the opportunity to popularize the National Disability Policy.
4. Presented a position paper on inclusive programming at an accountability monitoring conference that was organized by Transparency International Zimbabwe.
5. Conducted a research on COVID-19 and its interaction with Persons with Disabilities in Gwanda, on behalf of FODPZ. The research was facilitated by the Southern Africa   Federation for the Disabled (SAFOD), a regional disability umbrella body; NFT met the deliverables and made very important submissions to the entire research project.
6. With the assistance of the FODPZ Secretariat, wrote a successful project proposal to the Legal Resources Foundation for the implementation of a project that involves the strengthening of capacities of traditional leaders to handle legal cases in the community.
7. Again, through the FODPZ Secretariat’s support, NFT has managed to flag out and respond to safeguarding issues in the district, significantly, the abuse of persons with disabilities, based on religious and cultural misconceptions.
8. NFT has set the pace as one of the OPDs that actively popularise disability issues on social media. As we all know that we now live in a digital space, the voice of persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe is amplified through their diverse social media handles.
9. Mr. Nkomwa is the current FODPZ Vice Chairperson for Matebeleland South. He has, with utmost dedication, proven that he is beyond capable of coordinating activities for not only the province, but at the national level.
10. On behalf of the FODPZ Secretariat, Mr. Nkomwa, the NFT Director, successfully led a team of Disability Champions and other Provincial Committee members, to participate at the just ended national 2023 budget consultations.  

Ladies and gentlemen, the achievements are numerous to mention everything in a 10 minutes speech, but as FODPZ, we will hasten to say that NFT is a child that has made the father proud! FODPZ is excited with these great achievements, and the zeal and passion to continue is apparent. Let me urge all here present, particularly government stakeholders, and partners in the humanitarian and development space, to work collaboratively with this team of staff that are accountable, energetic, and a force to reckon with. NFT, we strongly rally for, and are confident of the rising giant that is within you. Soar higher, as you play your part towards achieving the National Development Strategy (NDS1) agenda of leaving no place and no one behind as we strive as a nation, to achieve an upper middle-class economic status by 2030.

In closing, let me take this opportunity and privilege, to appreciate the strides made by all stakeholders here present, towards implementing the National Disability Policy. I also wish to urge all, that we have a long way to go. Let us put to action, the commitment of the second republic, to recognize that persons with disabilities are not a burden to society, but are in fact, an important part of the national development agenda. In accordance with the United Nations measure of an estimated 15% of the world population being persons with disabilities, Zimbabwe, in the NDP, has also made provision for the nation to consider, in all its endeavours, to reserve 15% of resources, to persons with disabilities: 15% of the employees; 15% of residential stands; 15% of market stalls; 15% of nurses enrolment, and the list goes on. I implore us all, to do due diligence, and comply with these provisions. Makorokoto, Congratulations, Amhlope, NFT!