Suburban
A number of organisations working with Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have applauded the National Disabilities Policy launched recently by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, saying it is a positive development in improving the livelihoods of persons with disabilities.
Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter
President Mnangagwa launched the National Disabilities Policy last week as part of measures to ensure inclusivity.
In an interview this week, Deaf Women Included (DWI) programmes manager Onai Hara said the policy comprehensively covers and respects the rights of persons with disabilities.
“The launch of the National Disabilities Policy is a step forward as it aligns with the convention on the rights of people with disabilities. It actually captures the different issues that have to do with disabilities, issues such as accessibility and accommodation so it really covers such issues as disability rights comprehensively and it ensures that people with disabilities are represented and their rights are respected,” she said.
Another advocacy trust for persons with disabilities, Signs of Hope Trust said the policy was a welcome development.
“The policy is a welcome development, after going through it you would see that Zimbabwe is moving away from what we call the charity model where we see people with disabilities just being a charity case. The policy is coming with the aspect of empowering people with disabilities. It talks about self-reliance as one of the important things that the Government needs to see being done for people with disabilities,” said Signs of Hope Trust founder Samantha Sibanda.
President Mnangagwa launched the country’s national disability policy on June 9, 2021 in Harare. The policy which was developed with support from various stakeholders including the United Nations, seeks to address the marginalization and discrimination of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), empower them to improve their own quality of life and enable them to contribute towards the national development agenda.
It sets standards for the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in all facets of life, thereby serving as an overarching policy framework on disability across all sectors, including the public, private and development sectors.
President Mnangagwa called for an end to harmful practices, discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion of PWDs from participating in different sectors of the economy, adding that Government departments should mainstream disability issues in their programmes.
He called on citizens to stop treating people with disabilities as charity cases but rather treat them as equals who are capable of productively participating in the building of Zimbabwe.
“The reality is that no one plans to be born with a disability or desire to acquire a disability. Hence, everyone has an equal chance of becoming a person with some kind of disability at any time. Guided by the values of Ubuntu, Hunhu and the legislative obligations, both State and non-State actors have the collective obligation to do all which is possible for the fulfilment of the aspirations of this sector,” said President Mnangagwa.
