Taurai’s audacious bid to build empowered communities

Audrey Galawu

We have witnessed a Vice-Chancellor of a certain University who served for more than two terms. But whenever a wheelchair user requested to see the Vice-Chancellor, he always replied, "Whoever who wants to see me should come upstairs to my office and see me." He knew his office was not accessible to persons with mobility challenges. Before he finished his last term, he was involved in a terrible car accident, sustained a terrible spinal injury, and became a wheelchair user. He tried to navigate to his previous office and failed. He tried to call the new Vice-Chancellor to come downstairs and see him. The new Vice-Chancellor replied, "Whoever wants to see me should come upstairs and see me." On this day realized his mistake that he failed to make the office accessible during his term. Now he can't access it! -DDP LinkedIn Page

Effective storytelling is how Disability & Development Pathways have chosen to make every business decision maker realise why they need to use the DDP consultancy services.

Founder Taurai Chako wants to ensure full accessibility for people with disabilities so that mainstreaming disability becomes the new normal.

“DDP is a disability led organisation, we have taken this route of consultancy so that we work with organisations such as UNESCO to drive the issue of adaptive and assistive devices such as talking calculators, visual devices and software for people with disabilities,” he says.

“We identify a wide range of barriers persons with disabilities experience in accessing social protection to be overcome and calls for better data on disability, and improving disability assessment mechanisms. 

Born in Buhera South 29 years ago, Taurai Chako did not come into the world with a silver spoon conveniently slotted in his mouth. His was just a normal rural family where he one of six kids in a loving and supportive family.

“I remember when I asked my mother why she named me Taurai, her response was that she did not care what other people said about her son, she would say Taurai henyu,” he says with a chuckle.

This gave him the strength to face down stigma and prejudice from some members of the community who related his albinism with evil spirits.

Taurai’s leadership abilities stood out early. While at Chabata High School he became a Junior Member of Parliament and winning national competitions in public speaking.

“Determination and audacity are the key to success you cannot deal with people’s assumptions, stick to your dreams even in spite of a thousand repulses and defeats,” Chako says.

As a university student secured a job and successfully juggled studies and employment.

Since then he has worked with many organisations, including Tamuka Foundation, Zimbabwe Albino Association from 2020 to 2021 and also volunteered at Red Cross from 2017 to 2019.

He currently serves as a board member at Chiedza Child Care Centre and as a National Dialogue Committee member at UNESCO.

Along the way he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Ngoni Marimo and Julius Murombedzi who influenced him in the world of consultancy.

He studied Development Studies at Zimbabwe Open University and currently studying Environmental Sociology (Disability and Climate Justice) at University of Zimbabwe.

The new entrepreneur says he founded his organisation to offer extensive consulting services in disability inclusive community development and help to build empowered communities across various development sectors.

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