By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
BULAWAYO—When the 2025 National Digital Literacy and Skills Assessment (NDLSA) surveyors reached Matabeleland North and South, not a single participant identified as persons with a disability—a statistical impossibility that advocates say reflects pervasive exclusion.
The omission underscores a broader crisis: Zimbabwe’s digital literacy initiatives, from community hubs to national policies, rarely accommodate the estimated 15% of citizens with disabilities (World Health Organization).
For visually impaired learners like Tendai Moyo (24), this means exclusion from online education and jobs. “Screen readers are expensive, and trainers don’t know braille,” he said.
Policy Gaps Exposed:
- No Disability Data: The NDLSA’s ZDLI lacks disability-disaggregated metrics, masking inequities.
- Infrastructure Barriers: Less than 5% of public Wi-Fi zones and Community Information Centres (CICs) offer assistive tech.
- Employment Impact: Only 12% of disabled Zimbabweans are formally employed (ZimStat), partly due to digital skill gaps.
Solutions Proposed:
- Mandate Inclusion: Revise the National Digital Literacy Campaign to include sign language, braille, and adaptive devices.
- Targeted Funding: Allocate Universal Service Fund (USF) resources to disability-focused NGOs.
- Model Programs: Replicate Kenya’s inABLE labs, which train blind students in coding.
“If we don’t design for disability, we’re building a digital future for just half the population,” Disability Rights Zimbabwe Director.
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