President Emmerson Mnangagwa says government will resume issuance
of grants to institutions that cater for the disabled once the economy
improves.
The President was speaking during an interface with the
disability organisations in the capital today.
He said government has promulgated a policy to ensure there
are equal employment and deployment opportunities.
“There is no discrimination and we have an Empowerment Bank
coming and everyone will be catered for,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said his decision to appoint a Special Advisor on
disability issues (Cde Joshua Malinga) was informed by the urgent realisation
that the government had to effectively respond to the concerns of the community
of persons living with disabilities.
Mr Watson Khupe of the Federation of Organisations for
Disabled People in Zimbabwe (FODPZ) who met the President in earlier days when
he was Minister of Justice said he has faith that disability issues will be
taken care of in the same way that he contributed to the appointment of Cde
Malinga to represent the disabled in the Politburo.
“Having an opportunity to meet the leadership is a sign
that indeed Zimbabwe is open for business and our members can play in national
development,” he said.
Network of African Women with Disabilities representative,
Mrs Roseweta Mudarikwa who is a teacher in rural areas presented a paper on the
proposed Disability Charter.
The Disability Charter should give certain rights and
privileges to people with disabilities.
It should outline the rights of people with disabilities to
exercise the rights and be involved at all levels that include nation building
in policy-making and implementation of programmes.
The people with disabilities say nothing about us without
us.
The charter has 24 articles that include non
discrimination, self representation at all levels, health and rehabilitation,
education, employment and promotion, sport and recreation, social security,
housing, transport, accessible, disabled children, disabled women can be part
of the quota in parly, independent living, communication, prevention, positive
action, enforcement, appliances and equipment, access to community services and
facilities, institutional arrangement and ratification of conventions, non constituent
disabled parliamentarians and senators.
The Special Advisor to the President and Cabinet on
disability issues, Cde Joshua Malinga said the biggest handicap is the attitude
of able bodied persons towards them (disabled), while calling for inclusive
development adding that all community services should be planned with disabled
people in mind.
“We are not asking for the moon, good medicine and good
laws are what we are asking for. This is an opportunity we have been waiting
for for 38 years, we are very fortunate we have a listening President. I’m
receiving maximum support from every minister…thank you for appointing me,” he
said.
A touching rendition by a group Soul Bone expressed the hot
desire by people with disabilities to be given an opportunity to participate in
nation building and that they don’t want to be left out.
Tsarai Mungoni of Nascoh, a disbility group commended
government for signing the rights of people with disabilities.
However, there is need to domesticate the international treaty
to improve lives.
Mungoni also spoke about self representation of people with
disabilities in all structures of governance including local authorities and
commissions (electoral and human rights) as this is in tandem with the
sustainable development goals of leaving no one behind. zbc
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