Govt Zimbabwe offers disabled entrepreneurs US$1,000 in business loans

HARARE — Zimbabwe’s government is offering entrepreneurs with disabilities loans of up to US$1,000 under a revolving fund designed to support income-generating projects, according to a parliamentary report.

The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare disclosed the loan arrangements to a joint parliamentary committee investigating the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities.

The report, presented to the Senate on Tuesday, November 3, states that eligible applicants can access the loans without providing guarantors.

The maximum amount is equivalent to US$1,000, disbursed in local currency at the prevailing interbank exchange rate, with beneficiaries allowed to undertake income-generating projects of their choice.

However, the parliamentary investigation found that people with disabilities continued to face difficulties accessing government empowerment programmes, financial resources and opportunities for self-employment.

Public submissions indicated that some intended beneficiaries were being excluded from agricultural input schemes, land allocation and community development initiatives.

In Zvimba, participants reported that fertiliser distribution and other development programmes had not adequately benefited people with disabilities.

The committee also identified limited access to start-up capital and inadequate support after vocational training as obstacles to economic independence.

Women with disabilities were found to face additional challenges, including economic exclusion and vulnerability to exploitation.

Lawmakers called for targeted economic empowerment programmes, improved access to financing and stronger links between vocational training and employment opportunities.

The parliamentary report did not disclose how many people had received loans under the revolving fund, the total amount disbursed or the programme’s repayment performance.

The findings form part of a wider parliamentary investigation into the rights of persons with disabilities, which also identified shortcomings in education, healthcare, social protection and access to public services.

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