ABOUT 500 exhibitors are expected at this year’s Zimbabwe National Disability Expo 2026 scheduled for Mucheke stadium in Masvingo starting today.
The expo ends on Friday.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to officiate at the expo as the guest of honour.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services minister, Zhemu Soda, said preparations for the national event were progressing smoothly ahead of the official opening.
The expo, a government initiative aimed at empowering persons with disabilities, provides a platform for ministries, departments and agencies, organisations of persons with disabilities, communities and development partners to showcase products, services and achievements that promote inclusion.
The event is expected to attract about 500 exhibitors, with 438 having already paid exhibition fees.
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International participation has also been confirmed, with 24 exhibitors from eight countries India, Eswatini, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Rwanda and Zambia expected to attend.
“The expo recognises the participation of persons with disabilities by supporting them to spearhead the decision-making process and organisation of the events.
“Through the rotational hosting arrangement across all provinces, disability inclusion and empowerment initiatives are taken to communities, allowing them to become drivers and owners of inclusivity,” he said.
In preparation for the event, a disability-inclusive ablution block has been constructed at Mucheke stadium, while volleyball, tennis and basketball courts have been refurbished in line with universal design principles to improve accessibility.
Zhemu said Masvingo was a fitting host for the expo because of its long-standing history in disability rehabilitation and empowerment.
“The province is home to several institutions that have played a pivotal role in supporting persons with disabilities, while the legacy of the late Jairos Jiri continues to inspire inclusion and rehabilitation efforts across the country,” he said.
The province hosts several long-established institutions serving persons with disabilities, including Ngomahuru psychiatric hospital, Henry Murray School for the Deaf, Copota School for the Blind, Jairos Jiri Training Centre in Mucheke and Mukume Primary School in Mwenezi.