Bulawayo City Council Traineeship Raises Inclusion Questions After Applicants With Disabilities Overlooked

Thembelihle Mhlanga

Qualified applicants with disabilities say they were overlooked in Bulawayo City Council’s 2026 postgraduate traineeship intake, raising questions about whether the council’s equal opportunities commitment translates into practice.

The council’s Human Capital Department announced the 2026 to 2027 postgraduate traineeship programme in November 2025, explicitly encouraging persons with disabilities to apply. The call followed an earlier engagement between the council and disability groups arranged by Noble Hands Organisation under Project Amplify, where activists had questioned why so few people with disabilities appeared to be employed by the council.

“During our workshop the council said that persons with disabilities rarely apply,” said Primrose Ndlovu, a disability activist. “We were told the absence of persons with disabilities at the workplace is because there are no applicants. As a group we agreed to prove otherwise — we would apply and compile a list to show the council that we are willing and able.”
When the traineeship was advertised, members of the disability community responded in numbers. When the final list of trainees was released, no person with a disability appears among the successful candidates.
“This is painful and demoralising,” Ndlovu said. “We followed the agreement, we applied in large numbers, and some of us are more than qualified. The council calls itself an equal opportunities employer and Zimbabwe’s Constitution guarantees inclusion. If none of us were selected despite applying, institutions must explain whether their recruitment processes are truly inclusive.”

Applicants interviewed said they submitted complete applications and met the advertised criteria but received no response after the closing date. One applicant, who requested anonymity citing fear of reprisal, said they held a relevant master’s degree and practical experience but was not called for an interview.
“I prepared everything and even sent in a portfolio of my work,” the applicant said. “There was no request for an interview, no explanation. It feels like we applied to be invisible.”

Disability rights lawyer Thandiwe Mangoma said the situation raises legal and ethical questions under Zimbabwe’s existing framework.
“Zimbabwe’s Constitution and various policies, including the Public Service regulations, require reasonable accommodation and non-discrimination,” Mangoma said. “If qualified candidates with disabilities applied and were not considered, that could point to systemic barriers in the recruitment process. The council must account for its selection procedures and demonstrate how it considered applicants with disabilities.”

Residents spoken to by Matebeleland Pulse said public institutions should model inclusive hiring practices. One resident at a local market, who asked not to be named, said the council’s conduct did not reflect the fairness expected of a public body.
“We all pay taxes and expect fairness in public jobs. If the council advertises for everyone, then it must ensure opportunities reach everyone,” she said.

Attempts to obtain comment from Bulawayo City Council were unsuccessful. Multiple calls and emails to the Human Capital Department went unanswered, and no response was received by the time of publication.

Ndlovu said the outcome has shaken confidence in public sector inclusion commitments.
“Leaving no one behind should not be a slogan pinned to a website,” she said. “It should be reflected in our workplaces. We need the council to open its doors and its processes so the public can see that equal opportunity is not just words.”

Matebeleland Pulse will continue to follow this story.