The National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH) and the Federation of Organisations of Disabled Persons in Zimbabwe (FODPZ) have called on the Government of Zimbabwe to strengthen disability-inclusive budgeting in the 2027 national budget. The appeal was made during a pre-budget consultation meeting held in Harare on June 18, 2026.
According to a statement from the organizations, they urged the government to allocate at least 2% of the national budget to disability-specific programs, as recommended by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which Zimbabwe ratified in 2013. They also called for the establishment of a disability fund to support initiatives such as accessible infrastructure, assistive devices, and inclusive education.
NASCOH and FODPZ representatives emphasized that current budget allocations are insufficient to meet the needs of the estimated 1.5 million persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe. They highlighted that many public buildings, transport systems, and schools remain inaccessible, and that persons with disabilities face high unemployment rates and limited access to healthcare.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has acknowledged the submissions and stated that they will be considered during the budget formulation process. The government has previously committed to disability inclusion through the National Disability Policy, launched in 2021, but implementation has been slow.
