The Involvement of People Living With Disabilities in Peace Building Initiatives in Zimbabwe

This study sought to investigate the involvement of people with disabilities in peace building initiatives in Zimbabwe. The stratified random sampling method was used to select sixty respondents who constituted the sample group. A sample of 20 PWDS and 40 able bodied people were chosen as respondents. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data from the respondents. The study revealed that most people with disabilities are not involved in peace building initiatives in Zimbabwe because they are regarded as incapable people. Government policies on disability and culture do not give a level playing field for people with disabilities to be actively involved in peace building initiatives in the country. Lack of suitable equipment and facilities to use affect the involvement of people with disabilities (PWD) in peace building initiatives (PBI) in the country. The government should have a clear policy on PWD and domesticate these policies. A quota system should be used by Government to ensure that in every peace building initiative, PWDs are involved. Government buildings and all public places should be accessible to PWDs to enable them to participate fully in national issues including in peace building (PBIs). Key words: People, disabilities, peace-building, involvemen

The impact of Inclusive Education (I.E) on the Rights of Children with Intellectual Disabilities (IDs) in Chegutu

This study investigated the impact of Inclusive Education (IE) on the rights of children with Intellectual Disabilities in schools around Chegutu. The qualitative case study method was used for the research. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data from schools around Chegutu. Random sampling was used to choose the sample group from a total population of 80. Thirty respondents which comprised of 10 teachers, 10 children and 10 parents from the five secondary schools constituted the sample group. The results of the study showed that inclusive education recognizes the rights of children with intellectual disabilities. However, parents complained that IE do not offer conducive learning environments of children with IDs because the infrastructure in the schools do not cater for the children with IDS. Also the children interviewed looked down upon children with IDs. They called them ZIMCARES, imbeciles or morons. This tended to violate the ID children’s rights to dignity. This study encourages the government to uphold the rights of ID children in IE. There should be an education policy to fully cater for the educational needs of learners with IDs in inclusive settings. There is a serious need for awareness campaigns to remove the stigma attached to learners with IDs. Key Terms: inclusive education, rights of children, intellectual disabilities, school

The church and the management of gender based violence in Mutoko, Zimbabwe

This study focused on the role of the church in the management and resolution of Gender Based Violence in Mutoko District. The study sample consisted of one hundred (100) respondents including church leaders, elders and lay members purposively selected from the two main church groups namely the Denominational and the Pentecostal. The study concluded that, the church was doing more awareness and advocacy of Gender Based Violence in the church than in the community, more rehabilitation activities for victims of Gender Based Violence in the church than in the community and refers more perpetrators of Gender Based Violence in the community for legal advice and to the police than for perpetrators in the church. The study however recommend that, the church should do more Gender Based Violence awareness and advocacy campaigns in the community, more rehabilitation activities for victims of Gender Based Violence in the community and  refer perpetrators of Gender Based Violence that are in the church for legal advice and to the police. Key words: church, women, violence, gender, managemen