Millions Spent on Cars, Pennies on Wheelchairs

 Mahere Takes Aim at Govt Priorities…

By Post Reporter

A public exchange of ideas erupted this week after Advocate Fadzayi Mahere appeared to subtly respond to musician Greatman’s recent visit to State House, urging him, and others in similar circumstances, to use such rare platforms not for spectacle, but for advocating meaningful reforms that could transform the lives of thousands of Zimbabweans living with disabilities.

Greatman, a popular musician who lives with a physical disability, was among public figures hosted at the State House, where they received vehicles and other forms of assistance. While many celebrated the gesture, Mahere publicly questioned why those invited had not gone armed with policy proposals to improve the welfare of persons with disabilities nationwide.

In her strongly worded post, Mahere lamented what she described as a culture of being dazzled by small tokens, resulting in huge policy opportunities being wasted.

“Chinonetsa ndechekuti munobvuma kuvharwa netunhu-tunhu,” she said.

“Pamakaenda ikoko, makadii kuenda neposition paper inotaura kuti gadzirisai zvakati nezvakati… Instead, makanovarairwa and sang 2030. Now we are back at square one yekupemha.”

She argued that a strategic wishlist could have been tabled before the country’s leadership, one that demanded tax removal on assistive devices, the establishment of disability offices in all provinces, social welfare grants, sign language inclusion in official communications, and the creation of a national disability register.

Mahere’s intervention reignited a long-standing debate,  Is the Zimbabwean government doing enough for persons with disabilities, or is it merely resorting to public relations stunts?

Zimbabwe’s own statistics indicate that at least 9.5% of the population lives with a disability, a significant number that Mahere argues should automatically make disability inclusion a national priority. Yet, she says, the sector remains underfunded, understaffed, and largely invisible, even in moments when the government claims to be empowering citizens.

She questioned why, despite millions spent annually on luxury vehicles for senior officials, almost nothing is allocated toward essential supports such as wheelchairs, braille reading material, hearing aids, and other assistive devices.

“How much is spent on wheelchairs, braille books and learning material, hearing aids and other tools of necessity required by persons with disabilities?” she asked.

Her criticism grew sharper as she questioned the near absence of the Department of Social Welfare in matters affecting disabled citizens.

“Where are they when people with disabilities beg for help on social media?” Mahere asked. “Why were they not available to advise on the appropriate mobility-assistive vehicles for those content creators? What does this Ministry actually do?”

Mahere referenced data showing that disability is far more prevalent in rural communities, where 2% of the rural population lives with disabilities, compared to 0.9% in urban areas. Yet, she noted, support systems remain urban-centric, leaving thousands unsupported.

Without a functional disability register, she argued, policymakers have no real understanding of where the need is greatest or how resources should be distributed.

“In rural communities, children walk over 10km to school. What happens to those who cannot walk?” she asked.

Perhaps the most alarming aspect of Mahere’s critique was the revelation that the Zimbabwean government has imposed and is increasing taxes on essential disability-related tools.

She questioned why the government had introduced a 15% VAT on wheelchairs, braille materials, braille typewriters, and other assistive technologies.

Worse still, she noted that in the 2026 Budget, these taxes will be raised to 15.5%, making already unaffordable necessities even more out of reach for the most vulnerable citizens.

“Why is the government taxing disability?” Mahere asked. “Why has the Minister of Social Welfare not pushed for a 0% tax on these basic necessities?”

Mahere also highlighted a deepening crisis in the schooling sector, Only 1 in 3 children with disabilities is enrolled in school.

“What happens to the 66.6% who are left out?” she asked.

“Is it enough to wait until they turn 30, hand them a wheelchair, and claim they’ve been helped?”

She questioned what inclusive schools exist, what government institutions are available to support learning differences, and why sign language continues to be absent from schools and major national events, even the national budget speech.

Citing Zimbabwe’s staggering annual corruption losses, stimated at US$2.2 billion, Mahere contrasted the misuse of public money with the nation’s glaring neglect of disability support.

She pointed out that the US$7 million lost in the bogus goat scheme alone could have purchased over 40,000 wheelchairs, enough to supply every province and significantly reduce public begging.

The gesture by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to present a wheelchair to musician Greatman sparked a range of reactions, with some viewing it as more than just an act of goodwill. The move comes barely a week after the wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi being the first to gift Greatman a wheelchair, leading many observers to interpret the consecutive donations as a subtle political challenge between the country’s top leadership.

In ZImbabwe disability issues are often sidelined and politicized, these gestures have taken on deeper significance. Supporters of Mnangagwa suggest that the president’s action underscores his commitment to persons with disabilities and signals his intent to be seen as a leader who cares for all Zimbabweans. However, critics argue that these symbolic donations risk reducing the genuine needs of people with disabilities into political points, rather than addressing systemic gaps in policy and support.

The timing and nature of the donations have led to speculation about rivalry between the ruling party’s factions, with political analysts suggesting that such acts could be attempts to curry favor among voters and civil society by showcasing compassion. Yet, voices like Advocate Fadzayi Mahere caution that without comprehensive policies and sustained government action, these individual gestures, regardless of who gives them, will do little to transform the lived realities of Zimbabweans with disabilities.

In her concluding remarks, Mahere emphasized that sporadic charity events and publicized handouts cannot replace deliberate, well-crafted public policy. Persons with disabilities, she said, must never be exploited for political optics or used as propaganda props.

“Handouts can complement government action,” she said, “but they can never substitute it.”

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