Towards Equality for Women and Girls Living with Disabilities: Inclusion of Women with Disabilities into the Main Stream Economy of Zimbabwe: Opportunities and Challenges, a Case of Masvingo

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to bring aboard the significance of creating a practical all-inclusive operational empowerment policy and developmental strategies that take into account people living with disabilities, especially girls and women. Women with disabilities require protection against exploitation and abuse. Special programmes need to be developed for education, employment and providing of other rehabilitation services to women and girls with disabilities keeping in view their special needs. Such a framework will provide equal opportunities that will result in sustainable economic development, a shared responsibility. Existing literature on inclusive policies and culture focused more on donor support programmes and lacks the rigour on what critical issues need to be addressed in bringing aboard this very important class of our society into main stream economy through active participation. In that endeavour, this paper explored, and interrogated existing literature and re-examined the current status. A qualitative case-based research philosophy was employed. The population of this study comprised women and girls who are living with disabilities in Masvingo. Twenty women and twenty girls living with disabilities were interviewed through in-depth and focus group interviews as well as two institutions that directly support people living with disabilities. Data was analyzed thematically. The study revealed that for a long time there has been ‘paper talk and politicking on involvement of women and girls living with disabilities without having practical –implementable solutions. The paper recommends institutionalization of practical programmes from ward to national level with programme evaluation done quarterly to enable corrective measures by government and society in general. The results obtained will inform policy makers and directly benefit the government in formulating relevant policies that has a practical orientation. The originality of this paper lied in its value addition to existing studies on the same area of empowerment of girls and women with disabilities within the Zimbabwean context.