MARTIN MAWAYA
HARARE-Disabled people in Zimbabwe have welcomed the establishment of the National Business and Disability Network (NBDN), which aims to foster workplace inclusion across all sectors in the country.
The network, launched last year, comprises private sector organizations, development partners, and organizations of people with disabilities, including the Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe, the National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped, and Deaf Women Included.
Sightsavers Zimbabwe is providing technical support, and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has collaborated in the formation of the initiative.
Zimbabwe is the 14th country in Africa to have an NBDN, which is being coordinated by the Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (Emcoz), bringing together private and public organizations to drive change.
The NBDN’s primary goal is to ensure that employment policies and practices are inclusive of all disabled persons in the country.
“This network is a significant step towards creating a more inclusive employment landscape in Zimbabwe,” said Agnes Chindimba, Executive Director of Deaf Women Included in an interview with The Midweek Watch.
“By bringing together private and public organizations, we aim to drive disability inclusion both in practice and policy.”
Key focus areas for the network include development of interventions for people with disabilities, hosting of advocacy roundtables, disability audits for members, participation in the annual Global Business and Disability Network event, and stakeholder engagement on national disability policy.
The network will also serve as a platform for business-to-business support and peer-to-peer learning on disability issues.
Additionally, the network plans to leverage technology, collaborate on inclusive programs, create employment opportunities, and advocate for disability inclusion at the national and global levels.
“The Business and Disability Network is an employer-led network for private and public companies who are interested in learning about how to be inclusive,” Chindimba explained.
“The companies share experiences and learnings about employing persons with disabilities, making workplaces more accessible, and improving recruitment processes.”
By fostering a more disability-confident business community, the Zimbabwe Business and Disability Network aims to ensure that people with disabilities have equal employment opportunities and can contribute to the country’s workforce, added Chindimba.
