Sengezane community empowered with disability capacitation
April 9, 2024
Choice News Africa Correspondent
Gwanda – Matabeleland South based non-profit making organisation, Nkomwa Foundation Trust recently conducted disability sensitisation to one hundred and sixteen Sengezane villagers under chief Nhlamba in ward 14.
The objective of the sensitisation was to raise awareness to communities on disability issues, types, disability terminology, disability legal framework as well as gender-based violence.
The capacitation training in progress. Pic Choice News Africa
The participants included traditional leaders, religious leaders, care workers, village health workers as well as ward councillor and the village committee members.
Despite having a progressive constitution, a national gender policy and signing up to various international conventions aimed at promoting gender equality, gender based violence (GBV) and violence against women and girls with disabilities (VAWDs) in Zimbabwe continues to be the most pervasive way of denying women and girls their human rights.
Also security, dignity, self-worth as well as the enjoyment of their fundamental freedoms, is being infringed.
The challenges that come with these acts of violence at work, communities, in schools, health centres and other public spaces cannot be underrated.
Speaking to Choice News Africa Correspondent ward Councillor Gilbert Ndlovu expressed gratitude for the work done by NFT.
“I am so humbled to have the opportunity to interact and receive such an amazing capacitation on disability inclusion and this was an eye opener session to community members.
We really benefited and we welcome this organisation to our ward as services and interventions are much needed” said Ndlovu.
NFT founder also narrated the predicaments faced by persons with disabilities and their families, when it comes to inclusivity on national activities.
“Persons with disabilities of all ages, but particularly, women, girls and children often suffer multiple layers of discrimination. Further, caregivers and children of persons with disabilities carry the burden of looking after their family members.
They also suffer extreme poverty and exclusion through the intersectionality between poverty and disability. These are some of the gaps we intend to close in communities.” Added NFT Director Pick Nkomwa.