The Zimbabwe Disability Inclusive Arts and Culture (ZIDIAC) has secured formal approval to broadcast its disability advocacy radio drama, The Dhiyabhorosi, on the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation's (ZBC) Central Radio, marking a major milestone in the organisation's drive to promote disability inclusion through the arts.
Written by Siphosami Ndlovu, produced by Dumisani Ndlovu and directed by Muchineripi Gwarinda, the series is expected to premiere soon across the Midlands Province.
The approval gives ZIDIAC its first provincial broadcasting platform dedicated to disability advocacy through storytelling. It also comes after the organisation completed its registration and recently rebranded, expanding its focus from arts festivals to year-round disability advocacy and community engagement.
Through The Dhiyabhorosi, ZIDIAC aims to bring disability narratives into the mainstream, using drama to challenge stigma, promote inclusion and stimulate dialogue on disability rights in Zimbabwe.
Rooted in Zimbabwean rural life and inspired by Shona storytelling traditions, the drama follows the life of Nyashadzashe, a young girl living with bipolar disorder.
Despite enduring stigma, sibling favouritism and social rejection, she overcomes adversity to become an internationally recognised environmental conservation leader.
Producer Dumisani Ndlovu said the storyline was deliberately crafted to challenge misconceptions surrounding disability.
"The drama focuses on the journey of a young girl born with bipolar disorder who must navigate stigma, sibling favouritism and societal rejection before rising to become a globally recognised leader in environmental conservation. We wanted to show that disability does not define a person's potential," he said.
Designed as both an educational and entertainment programme, each episode explores challenges commonly faced by people with disabilities, including discrimination, barriers to education and healthcare, and harmful cultural beliefs. It also highlights resilience, inclusion and the importance of community support.
Ndlovu, who is also a ZIDIAC director, described the production as a transformative advocacy initiative.
"The Dhiyabhorosi is a groundbreaking artistic and advocacy project. It harnesses the power of storytelling to confront stigma, challenge cultural misconceptions and promote disability inclusion. Rooted in Zimbabwean rural life, the series dramatises the real struggles faced by families and communities while offering a vision of resilience, dignity and transformation. It is both entertainment and education—a cultural intervention designed to spark dialogue and inspire change," he said.
He said the organisation was committed to ensuring the message of inclusion reaches communities across the province.
"As the project rolls out, we will make sure the message of inclusivity and advocacy for people with disabilities is heard. Inclusivity is the backbone of this production. The series deliberately integrates disability rights terminology, highlights the role of civic organisations and human rights advocates, and showcases the importance of community action."
Ndlovu said every episode was designed to encourage meaningful conversations on disability rights.
"By weaving these elements into the narrative, the project ensures listeners not only hear the message but also feel its urgency. Every episode is designed to amplify the voices of those who are often silenced, making disability inclusion a national conversation."
He added that the initiative extends beyond entertainment.
"This project is more than a play; it is a movement. We want Zimbabwe and the world to know that greatness can rise from those society once rejected."
Radio remains one of Zimbabwe's most accessible communication platforms, particularly in rural communities where internet and television access remains limited. Through its partnership with ZBC, ZIDIAC hopes to reach families, teachers, healthcare workers, traditional leaders and persons with disabilities directly in their communities.
The organisation expects the series to spark school discussions, community dialogues and listening groups throughout the Midlands Province, with storylines reflecting both Shona and Ndebele cultural contexts to ensure the messages resonate with diverse audiences.
The approval follows months of script development, community consultations and production involving writers, actors with and without disabilities, and disability rights advocates to ensure authentic representation.