Decolonizing disability rights policies through indigenous theorization: the case of Zimbabwe

The chapter explores disability rights in Zimbabwe as the country aspires to be grounded on an African conceptualization of personhood within the broader context of the Africa we Want (Agenda 2063). The chapter critically analyzes key aspects of Zimbabwe’s first ever National Disability Policy (NDP) in light of the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to which it is linked in order to offer insights based on tentative indigenous theorization. It argues that pre-colonial, indigenous frames of reference have the potential for developing disability policies that are fit for purpose in multicultural societies where community is primary. To this end, the chapter examines the NDP’s recognition of multiple identity markers’ intersection with disability to frame the life worlds of people with disabilities. It argues that fulfillment, promotion, protection and respect for the rights of people with disabilities can be realized when indigenous theorization is used to undergird policies.