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Abigail Mawonde Herald Correspondent
The Office of the President and Cabinet is organising a national disability expo this month to raise awareness on disability issues. Addressing a Press conference in Harare on Thursday, chairperson of the National Disability Expo Mr Rowdy Mabaudhi said the expo will run under the theme “Disability inclusion for sustainable development: #Walking the talk and leaving no one behind” .

The expo will run from June 27 to 29 in Mutare.
“Preparations have been going very well. We have had challenges here and there in putting funds in place but eventually we managed to get sponsors that have come on board to assist.

“It has been difficult but I would like to say that with efforts being made by the committee that we have in place, which is the steering committee, we have managed to put things on the ground and the event will go on,” he said.
Thousands are expected to attend.

“We are also expecting well above 3 000 people to turn up for the duration of the expo who will get the opportunity to interact with persons with disabilities so they can start seeing their abilities rather than seeing their disabilities.

“We are going to be addressing mainly issues of empowerment of persons with disabilities. We would like to address self-representation of persons with disabilities. This will be showcased clearly by people exhibiting their wares.The physical disability that is viewed as disability is actually an impairment and not a disability.”
Mr Mabaudhi said people must change their perceptions on the disabled.

“People who thought disabled people should not be sent to school will also be able to see people coming from various special schools exhibiting there.

Special advisor on disability issues in the Office of the President and Cabinet Cde Joshua Malinga said the expo will change the way people view the disabled.

“My experience is that people do not know anything about disability. They are ignorant and they fear disability.
“We want to use this occasion to unteach them so that they unlearn what they have in their minds – the negative attitude.
“We will also take the opportunity to interact with the disabled conscientising them about their rights,” he said.