Soul-Bone Band’s newest song which was released on the official opening of the recently ended National Disability Expo 2021 edition is titled “Leave No-one Behind”. The song is an upbeat high tempo song which has an ‘amapiano’ beat. At first one will presume that it’s an ordinary modern dance song. However there is more to the song than just entertainment. Soul Bone lead singer and Manager Mr Bright Kadengu highlighted that the song was penned in support of the just ended National Disability Expo whose theme was centred on holistic empowerment of persons with disabilities whereby they are included in the mainstream society on an equal basis with others.
The event which commenced in 2013 through the initiative of the late Rtg Brig Gen Felix Muchemwa; who was the then advisor to the President and Cabinet on National Disability Issues had seemed to lose momentum over the years. In 2021, however the Expo was not the same as previous expos. There was much invested in terms of ensuring that the Expo is indeed a resounding success. The Office of the current Advisor on National Disability Issues Hon Dr. J.T. Malinga pulled all the stops to ensure that indeed people with disabilities are empowered through the event.
There were many interesting displays on show during the event. Government ministries also participated as well some private companies. This was indeed a demonstration of the inclusive nature of this year’s Expo which encouraged other players who are not necessarily mainstream disability organizations to exhibit, after all, disability is a cross cutting issue which cuts across all sectors of society. One of the most interesting items on display was Thisability Hub’s Accessible Vaya Taxi, the only one of it’s kind in Zimbabwe.
On the official opening of the event the President of Zimbabwe His Excellency Cde E.D Mnangagwa was the guest of honour. This again was a first for the expo since the beginning of the event in 2013. In his address President Mnangagwa highlighted the strides being made by government to empower people with disabilities for instance the recent employment of High Court judge Samuel Deme, a man with visual impairment and the recent promulgation of the National Disability Policy which he personally launched in June 2021. Apart from making the address His Excellency also presented some organizations for persons with disabilities computers and laptops which were sourced through Potraz. Farmers with disabilities who are excelling in agriculture were also honored through the Ministry of Agriculture.
In retrospect the 2021 edition of the National Disability Expo was well organized, it lived up to expectations and also contributed towards the empowerment of people with disabilities in Zimbabwe. There of-cause were some hiccups here and there however such is to be expected from an event of such magnitude. There also remains room for improvement by the organizers for future such events.