AfDB Approves $5 Billion Framework to Cushion Africa From Energy, Fertiliser Crisis

y Alain Kabinda

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Board of Directors has approved a new framework aimed at helping African countries mitigate the impact of the global energy and fertiliser crisis and strengthen their resilience against future economic shocks.

The Global Energy and Fertilizer Crisis Response Framework (GEFCRF) was approved on September 1, 2026 and will enable the Bank Group to provide targeted financial support to countries facing rising energy, food and fertiliser costs.

The framework will be financed through an additional US$4.1 billion in African Development Bank lending and up to US$960 million from the African Development Fund (ADF), the Bank Group's concessional lending arm.

The additional financing will increase the Bank's 2026 lending target to approximately US$12.7 billion.

According to the AfDB, the framework is intended to provide immediate relief while laying the foundation for stronger, more self-reliant and resilient African economies.

The response comes as the ongoing crisis in the Middle East continues to place pressure on African economies through rising global prices for energy, food, fertiliser and other commodities.

The Bank said disruptions to global trade routes and logistics, including key maritime corridors, were also increasing transport costs, delaying deliveries and worsening supply-chain vulnerabilities.

AfDB Acting Vice President for Country and Regional Operations Abdul Kamara said the framework was designed to respond to the urgent needs of African countries while protecting vulnerable populations and preserving development gains.

“This framework is about listening and responding to the urgent needs of African countries, helping them protect households and vulnerable populations, keep food, fertilizer and energy systems functioning, and preserve hard-won development gains while building greater resilience for the future,” Kamara said.

He added that the response should not only cushion countries from the immediate shock but also make them stronger against future crises.

The first will focus on stabilising macroeconomic conditions through rapid counter-cyclical financing, short-term buffers and coordinated fiscal, monetary and debt-policy responses during periods of economic stress.

The second pillar will seek to secure critical food, energy and fertiliser supplies by using emergency and trade finance to keep essential commodities moving, support vulnerable populations and stabilise markets.

The third will focus on protecting essential public spending and vulnerable households, including targeted social protection for vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth.

The fourth pillar will support medium- and long-term resilience, including efforts to reduce dependence on volatile external energy, food and fertiliser markets, diversify supply chains and strengthen regional solutions.

The Bank said African farmers were among those facing the effects of the crisis, particularly as higher fertiliser prices threaten to reduce the amount of inputs farmers can afford to use.

AfDB Officer in Charge Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development Martin Fregene said access to finance would be important in ensuring fertiliser continues reaching farmers.

“When fertilizer becomes too expensive or difficult to find, farmers use less and harvests can suffer,” Fregene said.

He said financing could help businesses keep fertiliser moving to farmers while efforts are made to strengthen fertiliser markets and increase local supply across Africa.

The framework will remain in effect for one year from the date of Board approval, after which it will be reviewed before any extension.

The AfDB said assistance under the framework would be demand-driven, with the level and type of support tailored to the vulnerability of individual countries.

The initiative builds on the Bank's previous emergency responses, including its COVID-19 Response Facility and the African Emergency Food Production Facility, combining immediate crisis support with measures aimed at strengthening Africa's capacity to withstand future shocks.

 

 Beyond the Showgrounds: Turning Agricultural Show Exposure into Lasting SME Business

By Alain Kabinda

The crowds have disappeared; the exhibition stands have been dismantled and the activity that characterised the Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Showgrounds has returned to normal.

But for local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the end of the show does not necessarily mean the end of the business opportunity.

For entrepreneurs who participated in the 98th Agricultural and Commercial Show, held from July 29 to August 3, 2026 under the theme “Fostering Trade and Investment,” the real test is now whether the exposure, contacts and relationships created during the event can be converted into sustainable business.

Among those determined to make the opportunity count is Gift Siame, an SME exhibitor dealing in products like peanut batter, Millet and soya beans.

For Siame, the show was more than an opportunity to display products to thousands of visitors. It became a platform for building a database of potential customers and business partners.

And speaking to Daily News in Lusaka Mr. Gift Siame said,

“We made sure that we did not just exchange contacts and forget about them after the show. We started following up with the people who visited our stand,” Siame says.

His experience highlights one of the most important lessons for SMEs participating in large exhibitions: the value of an exhibition can extend far beyond the days that it is running.

During the show, Siame encountered visitors who expressed interest in his products but were not immediately ready to buy.

Instead of waiting for those potential customers to return on their own, he continued engaging them after the exhibition through marketing and follow-up.

“We have continued marketing after the show because we realised that some people who visited our stand were genuinely interested in what we are producing. The contacts we collected have helped us to keep communicating with potential customers,” he said.

According to Siame, some of the contacts have returned with enquiries and orders, while others have opened doors to additional potential customers.

“Some people who visited us at the show have since contacted us to make enquiries and place orders. Others have connected us to people who are interested in our products. For us, that is one of the biggest benefits we got from exhibiting,” Siame said.

For an SME operating in a competitive market, such connections can be just as important as direct sales made during the exhibition.

The show gives businesses an opportunity to meet consumers, retailers, distributors, investors and other entrepreneurs in one place. But unless those relationships are maintained, much of that opportunity can disappear once the exhibition closes.

Rather than considering the Agricultural and Commercial Show a six-day marketing event, entrepreneurs can use it as the beginning of a longer commercial relationship.

Every serious enquiry, telephone number, WhatsApp contact or business card collected at the exhibition can potentially become a customer, supplier, distributor or business partner.

“The important thing is follow-up. You can meet hundreds of people at the show, but if you do not contact them afterwards, you may lose the opportunity. We are still using the contacts we collected and continuing to market our products,” Siame said.

The first step after the show should be to organise the contacts collected and separate potential customers from general visitors.

Businesses can then follow up with quotations, product information, samples, prices and delivery arrangements, depending on the nature of the enquiry.

Social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp Business, can also allow SMEs to maintain regular communication with customers without incurring the costs associated with traditional advertising.

Businesses have to pay for exhibition space, transport, branding, staff, accommodation in some cases, product samples and promotional materials.

The return on that investment should therefore not be judged only by the amount of money made during the exhibition.

A successful exhibition can generate longer-term value through new customers, orders, distribution agreements, partnerships and market intelligence.

The visitors to his stand provided more than an audience for his farming products. They provided potential connections that the business could continue developing after the event.

“We want to keep growing. The show gave us exposure, but what we do after the show is what will determine whether that exposure becomes sustainable business,” Siame said.

The post-show period also provides an opportunity for SMEs to assess what they learnt from consumers and competitors and an entrepreneur who received repeated questions about packaging, pricing, product quality or availability can use that information to improve the business.

For manufacturers and agro-processors, demand generated at the show can also inform production decisions also if visitors demonstrate strong interest in a particular product, the SME can assess whether it has the capacity to produce and supply that product consistently.

Instead of simply asking how much was sold during the show, entrepreneurs can ask deeper questions:

Who showed interest in our products? What were they looking for? What prevented them from buying? What products attracted the most attention? Can we supply larger orders? Which markets should we target next?

Another opportunity created by the Agricultural and Commercial Show is the possibility of expanding beyond the Lusaka market and other Visitors came from different parts of the country, creating opportunities for SMEs to identify retailers, distributors and potential customers in other provinces.

An SME that begins with a small customer base can gradually build distribution networks that take its products closer to farmers and consumers in other parts of Zambia.

While SMEs have a responsibility to follow up on the opportunities they create, the responsibility should not rest entirely on individual entrepreneurs.

for Siame, the experience has changed his understanding of what it means to exhibit at a major business event  and the most valuable outcome may not necessarily be what happened while the crowds were at the showgrounds, but what happens afterwards.

His decision to continue marketing and following up with contacts demonstrates how SMEs can extend the commercial life of an exhibition.

For Zambia's SMEs, the Agricultural and Commercial Show should therefore not be viewed as an event that ends when the gates close.

The real show begins afterwards—when the contacts are followed up, enquiries become orders, customers become regular clients and exposure becomes sustainable business.

That is when the promise of “Fostering Trade and Investment” moves from the exhibition grounds into the everyday reality of Zambia's local businesses.

(c) All Rights Reserved. 

 SMEs Challenged to Shift from Trading to Value Addition

By Alain kabinda

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been urged to take advantage of opportunities emerging from Zambia’s economic growth agenda, particularly in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, digital commerce and export markets.

                                                           Mr. James Chiwala

Speaking in an interview to Daily News in Lusaka Business Development and Marketing Expert and Co-Founder of CNC360 Consulting Mr. James Chiwala says SMEs are strategically positioned to contribute to economic growth through value addition, job creation and increased private sector participation, in line with the Eighth National Development Plan.

Mr. Chiwala said SMEs account for about 97 percent of businesses operating in Zambia and make a significant contribution to the national economy and employment.

He said the Government’s emphasis on value addition and local participation presents an opportunity for SMEs to move beyond traditional trading and become producers of goods and services.

One of the major opportunities, he said, is the mining sector, where the implementation of the Local Content framework is creating increased opportunities for Zambian-owned businesses to participate in mining supply chains.

According to Mr. Chiwala, local SMEs can supply a wide range of non-core goods and services, including catering, personal protective equipment, transport, maintenance services and safety gear.

He urged SMEs seeking to benefit from mining opportunities to formalise their businesses by obtaining the necessary registrations, including business registration with the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) registration.

Mr. Chiwala also highlighted invoice financing as an important financing mechanism that can help SMEs overcome working-capital constraints when supplying large mining companies.

He said the availability of such financing from commercial banks could enable smaller businesses to fulfil contracts while waiting for their invoices to be paid.

However,Mr. Chiwala challenged SMEs to move away from simply buying and reselling products and instead invest in value addition and manufacturing.

He encouraged farmers and agribusinesses to process agricultural commodities such as maize, soybeans, groundnuts and tomatoes into finished and packaged products.

“Don't just sell maize grain. Don't just sell soybeans. Don't just sell groundnuts. Process it, mill it, package it, brand it,” he said.

Mr. Chiwala said opportunities also existed in furniture manufacturing, building materials, agro-processing and the production of products such as tomato paste, sauces and packaged honey.

He said the Made in Zambia and Proudly Zambian initiatives could provide a market for locally manufactured products, particularly as SMEs improve the quality, packaging and branding of their goods.

Mr. Chiwala further urged SMEs to explore government and donor-supported financing programmes, including initiatives providing credit to citizen-owned businesses and enterprises operating within agricultural value chains.

He, however, warned that access to financing would remain difficult for businesses that lack proper management and financial records.

“Most of our SMEs are failing to secure funding because of poor business skills. We lack skills to run our businesses profitably and sustainably,” Mr. Chiwala said.

He urged entrepreneurs to develop business plans, maintain proper financial records and undergo capacity-building programmes to improve their chances of accessing loans and grants.

Mr. Chiwala also stressed the importance of embracing digital platforms as a way of expanding markets.

He said SMEs could use platforms such as social media, WhatsApp Business, TikTok and e-commerce to market their products beyond their immediate geographical areas.

He said a farmer in Kitwe, for example, could sell products to customers in Lusaka or Livingstone without having a physical shop in those markets.

“The world has now evolved. The world has moved on. We cannot do business as usual,” he said.

Mr. Chiwala further encouraged SMEs to form partnerships, cooperatives and business clusters to increase their capacity and take advantage of economies of scale.

He said individual SMEs often lacked the production capacity to meet large orders, but collaboration could enable groups of businesses to pool resources, purchase inputs in bulk, share equipment and compete for larger contracts.

He cited rural cooperatives as an example, saying members could collectively invest in shared infrastructure such as hammer mills, warehouses and cooking-oil processing equipment.

“Let's consider seriously working in partnerships and exploit what you call the economies of scale and synergies,” said Mr. Chiwala.

Mr. Chiwala also urged SMEs to look beyond the domestic market and explore export opportunities under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He said access to the wider African market provides significant opportunities for Zambian businesses that are able to produce competitive, quality and properly packaged goods.

He said the responsibility now rests with SMEs to prepare themselves to exploit the opportunities emerging from Zambia’s economic growth agenda.

Mr. Chiwala said businesses that formalise their operations, strengthen management skills, embrace technology, add value to local raw materials and collaborate with other enterprises would be better positioned to contribute to Zambia’s economic expansion and job creation.

 Govt Launches National Public Key Infrastructure to Boost Digital Trust

By Alain Kabinda

The Government has launched the National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI), a digital security framework aimed at strengthening digital identity verification and securing electronic transactions as Zambia accelerates its digital transformation.

Speaking during the launch in Lusaka Ministry of Technology and Science Permanent Secretary Dr Brilliant Habeenzu said Zambia’s digital transformation could not succeed through connectivity and online platforms alone without establishing trust in the digital environment.

“Digital information requires digital trust,” Dr Habeenzu said.

He said the NPKI was a strategic investment in Zambia’s digital future and would provide a trusted security layer for digital services, electronic documents and transactions.

Dr Habeenzu said Government would support the initiative through strengthening the policy and legal framework, investing in secure digital infrastructure and building partnerships with industry, academia, civil society and international partners.

He said the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act had provided the legal foundation for the Public Key Infrastructure framework and the establishment of a National Root Certification Authority.

Dr Habeenzu also said  that Government would continue updating regulations and harmonising standards with regional and international frameworks to strengthen confidence in electronic transactions.

He said the NPKI would complement investments in telecommunications networks, secure data centres and cybersecurity systems, while supporting the expansion of digital identity systems and resilient networks.

Dr Habeenzu said the framework could also create opportunities for local technology companies to develop products and services around digital identities, digital signatures and secure electronic transactions.

He noted that digital trust was particularly important in attracting investment because investors needed predictable systems supported by reliable infrastructure and a strong legal framework.

“The NPKI contributes to this environment by signalling that Zambia is putting in place the institutional and technical foundations required for a modern digital economy,” he said.

Dr Habeenzu said authenticated electronic documents, verified identities and secure digital transactions could help Government reduce reliance on paper-based processes and physical signatures.

He said this could make public services faster, more efficient, accountable, cost-effective and accessible.

However, Dr Habeenzu cautioned that the NPKI alone would not guarantee digital trust, saying reliable connectivity, secure data centres, resilient networks, cybersecurity capabilities, digital identity systems and skilled personnel were equally important.

Meanwhile, ZICTA Board Chairperson Professor Mundia Muya said the NPKI would provide the foundation for trusted digital interactions by enabling verification of people, organisations, devices, documents and electronic transactions.

Prof Muya said the growing use of digital government services, mobile money, digital banking, e-commerce and online businesses had made digital trust increasingly important.

“Today is not simply about launching another technology platform. It is about strengthening trust, which is fundamental to the success of our digital economy as a country,” he said.

He said the NPKI would use digital certificates and signatures to establish identity and verify the authenticity of electronic transactions and documents, helping to prevent tampering and impersonation.

Prof Muya said the infrastructure would benefit Government, businesses and consumers by supporting secure electronic services, digital approvals, paperless processes and safer online transactions.

He disclosed that ZICTA, in its capacity as the National Root Certification Authority, had operationalised the National Digital Trust Anchor.

According to Prof Muya, the trust anchor would enable digital certificates and signatures to be independently verified through an established trust chain, helping determine whether transactions were authentic and identities could be trusted.

He called on Government institutions, financial institutions, telecommunications operators, businesses and technology service providers to embrace the framework and integrate trusted digital certificates and signatures into their systems where appropriate.

“Government cannot pave the digital future in isolation. The regulator, government, industry and consumers must work together,” Prof Muya said.

And speaking at the same ceremony ZICTA Director General Eng Collins Mbulo described the launch as a significant milestone in Zambia’s efforts to build a secure, trusted and digitally enabled economy.

Eng Mbulo said the infrastructure would establish mechanisms for identifying parties involved in online transactions, validating electronic records and protecting digital information from security threats.

And Further, Smart Zambia National Coordinator Percy Chinyama has called for greater speed in the implementation of digital innovations, warning that delays could undermine investments in the country’s digital transformation agenda.

Mr Chinyama said technology projects required timely implementation because innovations could become outdated when subjected to lengthy government processes.

“Today is a day that should have happened a long time ago. Talk of PKI started a long time ago, but it has now arrived, and we are happy it has arrived,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of sustainability, urging institutions to plan for adequate financing, skilled personnel and technical capacity to maintain digital systems after their implementation.

Mr Chinyama warned that excessive dependence on external support could leave institutions “vendor locked” when they lacked internal technical capacity.

He further urged public institutions to overcome resistance to new technologies and ensure that legal, procurement and technical officials worked together when making decisions affecting digital projects.

Mr Chinyama said the NPKI would support Zambia’s continuing digitalisation efforts, including digital identity and the delivery of government services through online platforms.

He described the launch as the beginning of a broader journey towards a digitally enabled public sector.

“A genuine goal has not ended; it has just begun. We have a big journey in front of us, and that journey starts now,” he said.

The NPKI is expected to play a central role in Zambia’s digital transformation by creating a trusted environment for electronic transactions, digital government services, businesses and citizens.

 “Zambia Awaits PISA Results as Education Performance Comes Under Spotlight”

By Alain Kabinda

Zambia is set to receive the results of the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tomorrow, with education authorities expecting the findings to provide important evidence on learning outcomes and guide future education policies.

The results will be officially released in Paris by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which coordinates the international assessment.

Speaking during a media engagement in Lusaka, Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) Director of Research, Planning and Information Dr Shadreck Nkoya said Zambia’s participation in international large-scale assessments was aimed at generating evidence on learner performance and the factors affecting education outcomes.

                                                      Dr Shadreck Nkoya

He said the assessments examine learners’ performance in Reading, Mathematics and Science, while also collecting information on learner background, motivation, resilience and their ability to manage learning in a digital environment.

Zambia first participated in PISA in 2018 through PISA for Development, a programme designed, among other objectives, to strengthen countries’ capacity to conduct large-scale assessments and use education data to inform policy.

The country subsequently participated in the 2022 PISA cycle, during a period when Zambia was implementing its new curriculum.

In 2025, Zambia joined the main PISA assessment alongside 90 other education systems globally, with about 760,000 students taking part worldwide.

Science was the main assessment domain for the 2025 cycle, while Reading and Mathematics were also assessed.

The assessment also placed increased emphasis on learning in a digital environment and students’ self-regulated learning skills.

Zambia’s participation alongside African countries such as Morocco and Egypt provides an opportunity for the country to benchmark its education system against international standards.

According to Dr Shadreck Nkoya, the assessment provides an opportunity for education systems to identify what works, learn from successful countries and use evidence to strengthen policies and teaching practices.

The results are also expected to offer an indication of whether investments in classrooms, teachers, learning materials and education monitoring are translating into improved learning outcomes.

This is expected to make the findings an important reference point for policymakers, educators and other stakeholders seeking to address gaps in the education system.

As Zambia awaits the results, Dr Shadreck Nkoyahe has urged the media and other stakeholders to interpret and communicate the findings responsibly and within their proper context.

The Council, working with the OECD, is expected to provide technical support to stakeholders to help them understand the results and their implications for Zambia’s education system.

OECD Paris Data Manager for PISA Guillaume Bouquet is expected to provide technical guidance during the interpretation of the findings.

                                                   Mr. Guillaume Bouquet 

Among the key questions following the release will be how Zambia performed in Reading, Mathematics and Science, whether the country has made progress since its earlier participation in PISA, and which education policies and interventions may require strengthening.

The findings are also expected to inform Zambia’s preparations for PISA 2029, while providing evidence that could be used to strengthen teaching and learning.

The ECZ has described the release as an important moment for the country’s education sector.

“Tomorrow is a big day for education in Zambia,”Dr Shadreck Nkoya said, expressing confidence that the findings would provide an opportunity for the country to learn from evidence and strengthen its education system.

The Council has meanwhile reminded the media that the PISA 2025 results remain under embargo until their official international release tomorrow.

 

Lusaka Mayor Calls for Citizen Action on Environmental Cleanliness

By Alain Kabinda

Lusaka Mayor Chitambala Mwewa has called on Zambians to take personal responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean, saying environmental protection should not be left to councils and Government alone.

Mr Mwewa said lasting improvements in the country’s environmental conditions would only be achieved when citizens actively participated in maintaining clean communities instead of merely talking about the need for cleanliness.

“In order to change our country, we have to start from a place of participation. As citizens, all of us have to participate in making sure that our environments are clean, our surroundings are clean, and we are actively doing that, not just lip service,” he said.

The Mayor was speaking during an event linked to Zambia’s Elephant Charge, an annual off-road motorsport event that combines adventure with fundraising for wildlife conservation and environmental education.

Mr Mwewa said environmental responsibility should become part of everyday life, arguing that people needed to be deliberately educated about how their actions affect their surroundings.

“We have to educate our people. If we don't start from a place of education, which means enlightening them, it won't happen because it's automatic, no. It will happen because we are deliberate about teaching our people a better way,” he said.

He said civic leaders should also give greater attention to cleanliness because of its direct connection to public health.

“We cannot do anything if we don't start from cleanliness. Health is the number one vantage point,” Mr Mwewa said.

He said citizens needed to develop a culture of cleanliness and understand that protecting the environment was a shared responsibility.

“We have to turn our people into believers of cleanliness, and it's possible to do,” he said.

The Elephant Charge provides a unique platform for combining motorsport with environmental conservation.

Established in Zambia in 2008 and inspired by Kenya’s Rhino Charge, the event brings together 4x4 teams to navigate challenging bush terrain while attempting to cover the shortest possible distance between designated checkpoints.

Unlike conventional motorsport competitions where speed is the primary objective, teams participating in the Elephant Charge are required to plan routes, navigate difficult terrain and work together to recover vehicles and undertake repairs when mechanical problems occur.

The competition typically involves rivers, rocky terrain, steep slopes and thick bush, with the location kept secret until shortly before the event.

However, beyond the spectacle of vehicles battling difficult terrain, the Elephant Charge has a wider conservation objective.

Funds raised through the event are channelled through grants to Zambian organisations working in wildlife conservation and environmental education.

Since its establishment, the event has reportedly raised close to US$2 million, supporting initiatives aimed at protecting Zambia’s natural environment and educating communities about conservation.

Mr Mwewa said such initiatives were important but stressed that environmental protection could not depend entirely on organised campaigns.

He said the long-term solution required ordinary citizens to make cleanliness and environmental responsibility part of their daily lives.

The Mayor said a cleaner environment would not only improve the appearance of communities but would also contribute to better public health and the overall wellbeing of citizens.

 

 

 

Mwiinde Challenges Young Persons With Disabilities to Seek Leadership

By Alain Kabinda

Choma West Member of Parliament Trevor Mwiinde has challenged young persons with disabilities to reject being viewed merely as vulnerable people and instead demand meaningful participation in Zambia’s political leadership and decision-making processes.

Mwiinde said disability should never be equated with an inability to lead, urging young people with disabilities to move beyond being mobilised during elections and seek positions where they can influence decisions affecting their communities and the country.

“Disability should never be interpreted as inability to lead. Inclusion is about equal citizenship,” Mwiinde said.

He was speaking as guest of honour at a programme themed “Strengthening the Political Participation of Young Persons with Disabilities.”

Mwiinde said democracy should not only be about citizens exercising their right to vote, but should also provide opportunities for people to participate in leadership and influence decisions.

“Democracy cannot be measured by whether citizens are permitted to vote or not. Young people must progress beyond mobilisation into meaningful participation,” he said.

He called on political parties to ensure persons with disabilities are incorporated into party structures and leadership processes rather than only being remembered during election campaigns.

“There is nothing that beats participation, especially at the leadership table,” Mwiinde said.

He further encouraged young persons with disabilities to organise themselves and become more visible in political and civic spaces, saying stronger organisation would make it easier for government and other stakeholders to engage them on important national issues.

Mwiinde also cautioned young people against excessive dependence on political patrons, saying political participation without personal and economic independence could leave them vulnerable to manipulation.

“Political mobilisation, if you are not resourceful and you are not independent, you can end up being mobilised and put in somebody's pockets,” he warned.

He said young persons with disabilities should pursue leadership out of a genuine desire to serve rather than for personal gratification.

“The desire to serve is a conviction. The desire to serve goes beyond personal satisfaction. The desire to serve calls for teamwork and trust in others,” Mwiinde said.

Meanwhile, UPND PA to Media Director Karen Twambo said political participation should mean more than simply having persons with disabilities present in political spaces.

Twambo said young persons with disabilities needed knowledge, confidence, opportunities and platforms to contribute to national discussions and influence decisions.

“Political participation must mean more than simply being present. It must also mean having the knowledge, having the confidence, having the opportunity and the space to contribute,” she said.

She said inclusion would have little meaning if persons with disabilities were excluded from discussions about issues affecting them.

“Inclusivity really doesn't count unless the people we're talking about are part of what we're speaking about,” Twambo said.

Twambo said meaningful political participation should ultimately enable persons with disabilities to influence decisions and assume leadership positions.

“It also means that we should be able to influence the decisions, and ultimately be able to lead,” she said.

She further stressed the importance of allowing persons with disabilities to choose representatives who understand their lived experiences and challenges.

Twambo said young participants should use programmes of this nature to gain knowledge, ask questions freely and build relationships that could strengthen their participation in political and public life.

The speakers urged young persons with disabilities to use their collective voice and organisation to shift the narrative surrounding disability from vulnerability to equal citizenship, participation and leadership.