Call for Inclusive Investment as Zimbabwe Marks World Assistive Device Day

By Leeroy Mupariri

HARARE- Zimbabwe joined the global community in commemorating World Assistive Device Day on June 4, with strong calls emerging for the government and partners to invest meaningfully in assistive technologies to enhance the dignity, independence, and participation of persons with disabilities.

The event, held under the theme “Assistive Technology for All: Unlocking Potential, Advancing Equity,” the desire is a renewed focus on the affordability, availability, and integration of assistive tools like wheelchairs, screen readers, hearing aids, and mobility devices across all sectors of society.

Leonard Marange, National Director of the Federation of Organizations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe (FODPZ), emphasized that assistive technologies are not luxuries, but essential rights-based tools.

“These devices enable access to education, employment, healthcare, and public participation. Yet, only 10% of people in low-income areas globally can access them. We need urgent, coordinated national action to close this gap,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s commitment is reflected in several national frameworks, including the National Disability Policy (2021), the National Strategy on Assistive Technology, and Vision 2030. These policies align with international instruments like the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to health, education, work, and reducing inequalities.

However, stakeholders insist that policy must be backed by financing and local solutions.

Miss Jules Daudi, Director of the Zimbabwe Blind Women Trust, said assistive devices are often overlooked in mainstream development efforts.

“This day is more than symbolic-it’s a call to action for government, NGOs, and the private sector to prioritize assistive tech in social protection, public health, and education,” she said. “We must ensure that these tools are embedded in every system that serves people.”

Charity Manatsa, a young woman with disabilities, illustrated the daily struggles faced by many. She relies on a deteriorating wheelchair and finds repair services scarce and distant.

“A decent wheelchair can cost over US$300, and yet shops in the city are filled with luxury goods instead. We need services closer to home, and I wish I could get an electric wheelchair to move more freely,” she said.

As Zimbabwe marks this important day, the call is clear: assistive technology is an economic and human rights issue. It is not charity-it’s infrastructure for inclusion. Broad collaboration, domestic funding, and innovation are key to ensuring no one is left behind.

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