By Aldridge Dzvene
The resolutions adopted by People With Disabilities for Economic Development (PWDs4ED) are increasingly taking shape beyond policy articulation, translating into visible participation and measurable action within Zimbabwe’s political and economic landscape. What stands out is the organisation’s shift from advocacy to execution, where disability inclusion is no longer framed as a peripheral social concern but as a core development issue tied to productivity, representation and national growth.
At the centre of the PWDs4ED framework is the conviction that sustainable development must deliberately include persons living with disabilities. The resolutions emphasise economic empowerment through structured government support for enterprises run by persons with disabilities, including access to funding, skills development, markets and reasonable accommodation. This approach departs from welfare-oriented models and instead positions persons with disabilities as active economic agents capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.
These policy positions are being reinforced through practical interventions. At an inter-district meeting for Zone 6 held at Rufaro Stadium, members of People With Disabilities for Economic Development were the direct beneficiaries of a major empowerment initiative, receiving 240 wheelchairs and financial support amounting to US$50 000. Beneficiaries expressed strong appreciation for the initiative, describing it as a significant step towards addressing long-standing mobility challenges that often limit participation in economic, political and social programmes.
Following the distribution, the programme transitioned into a structured data-capturing exercise aimed at building a comprehensive statistical database. This process focused on profiling beneficiaries for food hamper distribution, funding disbursement programmes and the establishment of party cell structures. By prioritising accurate data, the initiative underscored a move towards evidence-based planning, transparency and targeted intervention, ensuring that future support mechanisms are both inclusive and accountable.
Beyond material support, political participation and representation form a defining pillar of PWDs4ED’s work. According to PWDs4ED Harare Chairperson Cde Agri Musavengana, members are now consistently involved in inter-district meetings, national mobilisation programmes and formal campaign activities, including participation during the Glen View elections.
Their involvement is formally recorded, reinforcing the principle that inclusion must be intentional, visible and measurable rather than assumed.
This growing visibility was further cemented through the organisation’s participation at the ZANU-PF Annual People’s Conference, one of the party’s most significant national platforms.
The presence of PWDs4ED members at the conference signalled more than symbolic inclusion; it reflected an expanding role for persons with disabilities within high-level political processes and strengthened calls for representation across all party structures and decision-making spaces.
Mobility remains a critical enabler of this participation. In addition to wheelchairs and crutches, PWDs4ED continues to advocate for broader mobility support, including access to vehicles for licensed drivers living with disabilities.
The argument is simple yet profound: without addressing mobility barriers, participation in campaigns, conferences and economic activity remains structurally constrained.
Analytically, the importance of the PWDs4ED resolutions lies in their integration of rights-based advocacy with economic logic and political presence. By linking empowerment initiatives to data systems, structured participation and national platforms, the organisation is redefining disability inclusion as a development strategy rather than a charitable obligation.
The challenge ahead lies in institutionalisation. While participation and visibility have improved, long-term impact will depend on translating resolutions into enforceable policies, sustained budgetary support and structural reforms that survive beyond individual programmes or events. Disability quotas, accessibility standards and enterprise support mechanisms will require consistent political will and administrative follow-through.
Nevertheless, the trajectory is clear. From Rufaro Stadium to the Glen View elections, and ultimately to the ZANU-PF Annual People’s Conference, PWDs4ED is demonstrating that disability inclusion can move decisively from policy intent to practical action. In doing so, the organisation is advancing a development narrative that recognises persons with disabilities as indispensable stakeholders in Zimbabwe’s political and economic future.
