By Staff Reporter
GWANDA – Nkomwa Foundation Trust (NFT) has transitioned into Nkomwa-Nkemeleje Disability Initiative (NDI) following its registration as a Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO), marking a significant step in the organisation’s institutional development and its commitment to advancing disability inclusion in Zimbabwe.
Registered under PVO Number 191/26, the Gwanda-based organisation says the transition will strengthen its governance, accountability and operational capacity as it seeks to expand its contribution to the empowerment of persons with disabilities across Southern Zimbabwe.
The development comes as Zimbabwe pursues its Vision 2030 aspiration of becoming a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society, with inclusive development and equal access to economic and social opportunities forming an important part of the national agenda.
The country’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), covering the 2026-2030 period, also identifies the empowerment of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups as part of efforts to achieve equitable national development.
NDI’s new mandate, “Promoting Sustainable Disability Inclusion in Southern Zimbabwe”, reflects this broader development agenda, with an emphasis on moving beyond individual interventions towards strengthening community participation, institutional responsiveness and access to opportunities.
The registration also brings the organisation’s operations under the regulatory framework of the Private Voluntary Organisations Act [Chapter 17:05], as amended by the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Act, 2025 (Act 1 of 2025).
The amended legislation places emphasis on good governance, transparency, accountability, responsible management of resources and ensuring that donations are applied towards an organisation’s registered charitable objectives.
NDI founder Dr Pick Nkomwa said the registration was an important milestone in strengthening the organisation’s institutional credibility and ensuring compliance with the country’s regulatory requirements.
“I am deeply grateful that we have finally achieved registration as a Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO), in compliance with the statutory requirements governing the sector. Compliance, accountability and good governance are fundamental to building a credible and sustainable institution,” he said.
Dr Nkomwa said the change in name and legal status would not alter the organisation’s founding commitment to advancing the rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities.
“While our name and legal status have changed, our mission remains unchanged: breaking barriers, opening opportunities and ensuring that persons with disabilities are recognised as equal citizens and active drivers of development,” he said.
He called on the organisation’s constituency, partners and allies to remain supportive as it strengthens its governance structures, internal systems and organisational processes.
Established on October 19, 2020, NFT was founded on the conviction that sustainable community development cannot be achieved while persons with disabilities remain excluded from education, information, public services, economic opportunities and decision-making processes.
Over the past six years, the organisation has worked with communities, local authorities, Government departments, civil society organisations and development partners to challenge discriminatory attitudes and promote disability inclusion.
Its institutional transition comes with an opportunity to consolidate these interventions while strengthening compliance with the governance and accountability requirements introduced under the amended PVO legislation.
Among the organisation’s flagship development ambitions is the establishment of the Nkomwa-Nkemeleje Disability Empowerment Centre in Mapate, Gwanda District.
The proposed community-based facility is envisioned as a hub for disability empowerment, access to services, early childhood development, skills training and livelihood support.
The project carries particular significance for rural communities, where persons with disabilities can face additional barriers in accessing essential services, education, training and economic opportunities.
Through initiatives of this nature, NDI seeks to contribute to a development approach in which persons with disabilities are not merely beneficiaries of social assistance but participants in economic activity, community development and national transformation.
This is consistent with the inclusive development aspirations of Vision 2030 and NDS2, which recognise that national prosperity must translate into improved opportunities and livelihoods for all citizens, including persons with disabilities.
As it begins its new institutional chapter, NDI will be expected to translate its expanded mandate into measurable community impact, supported by sound governance, transparent resource management, strategic partnerships and sustained engagement with the communities it serves.
From NFT to NDI, the organisation is seeking to build on six years of experience while positioning itself as a stronger institutional voice for sustainable disability inclusion in Southern Zimbabwe, and beyond.
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