PRESS STATEMENT: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Theme: “United in Action to Rescue and Achieve the SDGs for, with and by Persons with Disabilities”
Date 3 December 2025
The Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations (ZCIEA) joins Zimbabwe and the global community in commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). As the representative voice of the millions of workers and traders who form 88% of the national labour force—some of whom are persons with disabilities—we take this day to reaffirm our commitment to disability rights, inclusion, dignity, and equal economic participation.
Persons with disabilities in the informal economy are workers, traders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and community leaders, yet they continue to face multiple layers of exclusion that undermine their potential and violate their constitutional and human rights.
- Persons with Disabilities Are Key Actors in the Informal Economy
Across markets, streets, workshops, and home-based enterprises, persons with disabilities contribute significantly to household incomes, urban food systems, community services, and national economic activity. However, they often operate with limited support, inaccessible infrastructure, discriminatory attitudes, and barriers to markets and capital.
- Persistent Barriers Undermine Participation
Despite policy commitments, persons with disabilities continue to face:
- Lack of accessible trading spaces (ramps, toilets, pathways, signage).
- Harassment and discrimination in markets, transport, and public spaces.
- Limited access to assistive devices, rehabilitation, or mobility aids.
- Exclusion from social protection and livelihood support schemes.
- Limited access to finance, microcredit or capital for enterprise growth.
- Lack of representation in decision-making structures that shape the informal economy.
These barriers push thousands of workers with disabilities into extreme poverty and dependency—contrary to the principles of Vision 2030, the National Disability Policy, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
- Disability Exclusion Is an Economic Issue
Excluding persons with disabilities from active economic participation is not only a human rights problem—it is also an economic loss. It weakens families, reduces national productivity, and undermines the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those relating to poverty reduction, work, equality and inclusion.
- ZCIEA’s Position: We Demand Full Inclusion and Protection
ZCIEA urgently calls for:
- Inclusive Market Infrastructure
Local authorities should develop and upgrade markets to be disability-friendly—ramps, accessible toilets, signage, lighting, shelter, and safe mobility pathways.
- Enforcement of the National Disability Policy (2021)
Authorities must ensure real implementation, not symbolic commitments.
- Social Protection That Works for Informal Workers with Disabilities
Disability grants, health insurance, and income support must reach informal workers effectively and without bureaucratic barriers.
- Access to Affordable Capital and Economic Empowerment
Financial institutions and government schemes must create accessible, disability-sensitive loan and grant facilities tailored for informal economy entrepreneurs with disabilities.
- Representation and Voice
Persons with disabilities must be included in local committees, economic decision-making bodies, and market management systems—“Nothing for Us Without Us.”
- Protection from Violence, Harassment, and Exploitation
Many workers with disabilities—especially women—face harassment in trading spaces. Protection measures and grievance mechanisms must be strengthened.
- ZCIEA’s Ongoing Commitment
As ZCIEA, we will continue to:
- Strengthen disability inclusion in our organisational structures and leadership.
- Build partnerships with disability rights organisations.
- Provide training, advocacy, and paralegal support to informal workers with disabilities.
- Advocate for inclusive national budgets and policies that recognise the contributions and needs of persons with disabilities.
- Call to Action
On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, ZCIEA calls upon:
- Government to mainstream disability inclusion in economic and social policy.
- Local authorities to prioritise accessible trading environments.
- Financial institutions to remove discriminatory barriers.
- Development partners to support disability-inclusive economic programming.
- Communities to respect, support and stand in solidarity with persons with disabilities in the informal economy.
Conclusion
Persons with disabilities are not objects of charity—they are rights-holders, workers, innovators, and equal participants in the national economy. Zimbabwe cannot achieve Vision 2030 or the SDGs while leaving behind thousands of informal workers with disabilities who continue to face economic exclusion.
ZCIEA stands firm in its message today:
“An inclusive Zimbabwe is possible only when every worker—including persons with disabilities—can participate, trade, and thrive with dignity and equal opportunity.”
Issued by:
Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations (ZCIEA) 03/12/2025