By Michael Gwarisa
In a landmark stride toward inclusivity and gender equality, the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) has officially launched the Women with Disabilities Forum—a transformative platform aimed at amplifying the voices and rights of women and girls with disabilities across Zimbabwe.
Presiding over the launch, WCoZ National Coordinating Committee (NCC) Chairperson, Muchanyara Cynthia Mukamuri, hailed the occasion as a pivotal moment in the fight for equal rights and full participation of all women, regardless of physical ability.
This launch is not just a ceremonial event,” Mukamuri said. “It’s a defining milestone—one that symbolizes hope, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to building an inclusive society where every woman and girl, no matter her ability, can be accepted, empowered, and thrive.”
Mukamuri underscored the importance of inclusivity and intersectionality within Zimbabwe’s gender advocacy space. She applauded the support of partners such as the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), HIVOS, and the Irish Embassy for their steadfast commitment to the cause.
The Women with Disabilities Forum is set to become a strategic hub for advocacy, policy dialogue, research, and capacity building. At its core is a mission to place women with disabilities at the center of national development conversations. Mukamuri noted that the initiative expands on a 2022 Memorandum of Understanding signed with the National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH) and the Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe (FODPZ).
“This MoU wasn’t just a formality,” she added. “It was a call to solidarity—a blueprint for collaborative advocacy. And now, we’re bringing that vision to life.”
The Forum will also guide the development of a robust 2025 advocacy plan, designed to elevate the voices of women with disabilities and ensure their meaningful inclusion across all sectors—politics, education, healthcare, and the economy.
“We’re talking about inclusion in every sphere of life,” emphasized Mukamuri. “And together, I believe we can make a real difference.”
The launch concluded on a joyous note, with music and dancing commemorating what many described as a long-overdue breakthrough for disability rights in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s Constitution, under Section 246, mandates the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) to monitor issues relating to gender equality, investigate possible violations, hear public complaints, advise institutions on achieving gender parity, and recommend prosecution for gender-related rights violations.
Speaking at the launch, ZGC Commissioner Sibongile Mawuye congratulated WCoZ on establishing the forum.
“This is a strategic step toward a more inclusive and representative movement—one that amplifies the voices of women with disabilities,” said Commissioner Mawuye. “The principle of meaningful participation, even within the national gender machinery, requires active engagement. Only then can the voices and choices of women with disabilities be truly heard and respected, allowing them to shape their own destinies.”
Despite this progress, data indicates that women and girls with disabilities who experience Gender-Based Violence (GBV) continue to face significant obstacles when seeking justice.
An evaluation by Leonard Cheshire Disability identified several persistent barriers: widespread discrimination, harmful stereotypes, and the lack of sign language interpreters at police stations. The report further notes that even during the justice process, survivors encounter limited understanding of disability-related abuse and are frequently subjected to stereotyping based on their disabilities.
Meanwhile, HIVOS, one of the funding partners for WCoZ, raised concerns about inadequate financial support for women’s development initiatives across the region.
“A lot of the available funding is geared toward mainstream programs,” said Tambudzai Madzimure, HIVOS Program Manager. “But within those programs, the women’s movement receives the smallest slice of the budget. And yet, our needs are vast and incredibly diverse.”
