Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe-FODPZ

Mrs S Manduna Director ZIMNAD, sharing on the services that the Organisation offer. They are into sign language training, awareness raising for communities and person's with hearing impairments

Ms M Maunganidze Director of ZIMAS also Chairperson of National Disability Board and Vice Chairperson of FODPZ, sharing on albinism. People with albinism have 2 major challenges, exposure of sun can lead to skin cancer, and most person's with albinism have challenges with eye sight.

Mr Nicholas Gwati Director of Right of Hope. They are into Agro-ecology, Perma culture , Educate on various herbs, healing properties of various food crops

Mrs R Gwatinyanya Director ESF, sharing on the work they do. This includes, offering medication, awareness raising, and it's one of the few Organisation with EEG machine, which is critical in assessments for person's with Epilepsy. They charge nominal fees for EEG service as opposed to the rest of the other service providers.

Ms Angelica Mukorongo Founder and CEO of OCD Trust (Zimbabwe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), sharing on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD is not well known, and not referral centers for this condition are available. We are glad now that many people are coming out and getting assistance.

Ms Hellen Mutambara Director of Autism Organisation of Zimbabwe sharing information on Autism. The Organisation is into rehabilitation, skills training.

Mr Kadzviti FODPZ Hon. Secretary summarised key points from issues shared by Committee Members:
Networking, collaboration, learning from past mistakes or challenges of previous committee.

Vice Chair of the Committee calls for unity of the committee and the OPDs so that together we can drive the Disability agenda, and ensure disability is mainstreamed in all sectors of the society and economy

Harare Provincial Committee Chairperson Mr Kuda Machiha, giving vision of the work ahead for the committee. He gave a challenge to OPD Directors to share more information on specific impairments so that the committee is well informed and we'll equiped to the carryout advocacy issues

FODPZ today conducted elections for Harare Provincial Committee. OPDs represented in the event in DWSO, Isheanesu, ZIMNAD, ZIMNAMH, Autism Organisation of Zimbabwe, ESF, ZIMAS, ZPCHA

Person's with Disabilities are encourage to know the Zimbabwe Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

Advocate Mazvita Kadenha indicated that there are 5 critical sections that mention or deal with person's with disabilities, Section 22, 56, 83, 85 and 120D

Advocate Mazvita Kadenha unpacking the National Disability Policy.

Tedious Mufute laments how he is treated at bus stops. How he spends hours wanting to board the bus, and with no one to assist with folding the chair and helping him access the transport system. This raises the point of the need for the transport system to be more inclusive, to have public transport system, that can be easily accessible by all people. Our buses should have ramps/lifts for wheelchair users.

Key Discussion points from Mutare Youth Sensitisation
1. It's hight time we push for sign language to be taught in all schools, as it is part of our National languages. Everyone in our community should at least have basic sign language skills.

2. Person's with Disabilities should be included in all develop processes from formulation to implementation. The inclusion should not be tokenism but our views should seriously be taken on board.

Mr Simon Zonke presenting on Disability and Disability inclusion and mainstreaming.

FODPZ through its Manicaland Provincial Committee is conducting a youth Sensitisation workshop, for youth with Disabilities and others on the National Disability Policy, and some of the provisions of the policy. The even is taking place today 14 Dec 2021 in Mutare at Eastern Highlands Christian Fellowship Church.

FODPZ Statement On 16 Days of activism Against Gender-Based Violence

The Federation of Organizations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe (FODPZ), stands with the world in commemorating 16 Days of Activism Against Gender based violence campaign. Indeed, “Orange The World, End Violence Against Women Now!”
FODPZ represents the interests and concerns of persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe. Yes, if persons with disabilities are not healthy and safe, they cannot care for themselves, support their families or contribute to their communities. We want to specifically stand with women and girls with disabilities as they are more vulnerable and marginalized. According to UN Women, around one in five women has some form of disability. In most cases, persons with disabilities are treated as subhuman and because of that, they often face a heightened risk of domestic and sexual violence. Unfortunately, too many existing programmes meant to prevent gender-based violence do not take into account the unique dangers and challenges faced by women with disabilities. Without specific attention and solutions, these women have been left behind and at risk. This has to change.
According to UN women, Women with disabilities around the world experience much higher levels of physical, sexual, and psychological violence, for longer periods of time and with worse physical and mental outcome as a consequence of violence than women without disabilities. The main factors for the additional vulnerability of women and girls with disabilities are:
Patriarchal attitudes: Attitudes towards women in patriarchal societies combined with vulnerabilities related to the impairment itself.
Powerlessness: The perceived powerlessness of women and girls with disabilities who are less able to defend themselves or seek support because of their isolation e.g. they may be hidden away, the nature of impairment leaves them isolated, or they may not recognise that what is happening is unacceptable and not their fault.
Poverty: There is a strong bidirectional link between poverty and disability. It is often said that disability is 'both a cause and consequence of poverty' and poverty and disability 'reinforce each other, contributing to increased vulnerability and exclusion'. Poverty increases the likelihood of disability.
Access to services: Their inability to access legal protection and redress because services are not accessible and there is lack of awareness of the issues that women and girls with disabilities face in regards to their vulnerability.
The introduction of mandatory lockdowns to curb covid 19 saw a rise in Gender based violence for persons with disabilities with adverse effects on women. Due to lack of information, some persons with disabilities particularly those with hearing impairment found themselves in town during the lockdowns and found themselves stranded or having to answer to security forces with little success. We implore Government and stakeholders to ensure that when information on covid 19 and lockdowns is shared, please ensure that persons with different disabilities including women also have access to that information to avoid what they faced in the past lockdowns. Development agencies, power holders and service providers need to build into their programmes the right protection for women with disabilities. It will require sustained global focus, momentum and action.
We applaud the efforts made by the government of Zimbabwe thus far where they have considered recruiting directors of Gender, Inclusivity and Wellness in all the 21 Ministries. This will go a long way
As FODPZ, we stand with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprise Development in saying “Orange the world: End violence against women now!
It does not matter that we do not have a voice to cry out for help,
It does not matter that we cannot see to identify GBV perpetrators,
It does not matter that we are not strong enough to defend ourselves, BUT DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE!
“No to child marriages”.

Dr C. Peta Director of Disability Affairs in the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare, presenting on:Unpacking The National Disability Policy and it's Funding Models

Mr T Kadzviti Hon. Secretary of FODPZ Presenting on a Topic: Why Budgeting for Disability

FODPZ Press Conference

Mr K. Shava Sharing on a Topic: Defining Disability Inclusive Budgeting: The role of OPDs in Budgeting process (i.e. from formulation to implementation)

Mr Marange National Director for FODPZ: Presenting on a topic: Is Budgeting Advocacy Important in influencing Disability Inclusion

FODPZ Press Conference in progress

FODPZ is having a Press Conference at Jameson Hotel on Disability Inclusive Budgeting Sensitisation

Visit at Isheanesu Multi-Disability Center show casing the old and the new structures. The new offices and 2 classrooms were constructed by Mimosa Mine and officially opened on 18 December 2018

FODPZ also handed over hand sanitizer to Isheanesu and a Sanitiser foot dispenser. This was a timely gesture and one caregiver at the institution commented, "we were almost running out of sanitiser and have no resources to replenish it. This is indeed a timely donation".

FODPZ today delivered 5 Desktop computers to Isheanesu Multi-purpose center for Children with Disabilities in Glenview 1. The computers were donated by POTRAZ after Isheunesu was recommended by FODPZ as potential beneficiaries for the Cooperate Social responsibility. His Excellence The President of Zimbabwe handed over the Computers to FODPZ as Guest of Honor at the just ended National Disability Expo at Gweru Sports Club on the 13th of October 2021.

Photos from Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe-FODPZ's post

Today was day 3 of National Disability Expo and His Excellency The President of Zimbabwe visited our stands

Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe-FODPZ is now on WhatsApp.

Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe-FODPZ is now on WhatsApp.

Senator Khupe visiting FODPZ stand at Disability Expo in Gweru.

Sanitisers at FODPZ stand at Disability Expo

Visit our stand today at the National Disability Expo and you stand a Chance to walk away with a few items for free, including sanitisers

FODPZ National Director visiting Zimbabwe Sports Association for People with Disabilities (ZASPD) stand at Disability Expo

National Director visiting LOWERO, stand at Disability Expo.

CBM Country Director Ms D Tigere visiting FODPZ stand at National Disability Expo

FODPZ National Director visiting ZWIDE stand at Disability Expo

National Director visiting Leonard Cheshire Disability stand at Disability Expo

FODPZ visiting CBM stand at Disability Expo. Visit CBM stand at the Expo for lots of literature on Disability Inclusion.

FODPZ National Director visiting DWSO stand at Disability Expo

National Director Visiting ZAVH stand at Disability Expo. The stand is being manned by Mr Mudarikwa the Director of ZAVH.

National Director visiting NCDPZ stand at National Disability Expo.

National Director visiting Albino Charity Organisation of Zimbabwe stand at the National Disability Expo.