Sound Public Finance Management, A Key To Achievin...

Sound Public Finance Management, A Key To Achieving Meaningful Inclusivity For Persons With Disability: Zimcodd

Audrey Galawu

Approximately, 15% of the world's population, or one billion people identify as People with Disability and the prevalence of disabilities is higher in developing nations.

Currently, the government is in the process of repealing the Disabled Persons Act (17:01) of 1992 and move away from the Charity Based Approach to the Rights Based Approach in dealing with PWDs.

However, while Zimbabwe`s efforts are commendable, the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development said there are operational and governance glitches that need immediate redress if the nation is to attain an inclusive and comprehensive upper middle-class economy by 2030.

“Zimbabwe needs to increase expenditure towards PWDs services which should be complimented by comprehensive and inclusive social protection systems that are calibrated to advance the rights of PWDs.

“The PWDs Funds housed in the Department of Disabled Persons Affairs under the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare must be allocated after a thorough needs assessment utilizing the five dimensions of disaggregated data on PWDs as aforementioned. There is also a need for strengthening accountability and transparency mechanisms in the institutions responsible for handling PWDs Funds.

“This is because the Office of the Auditor General Report for the year 2022 reports on misappropriation of the PWD funds by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. Thus, strong accountability and transparency mechanisms will deter under dealings and promote sound Public Finance Management,” Zimcodd said.

The Coalition also suggested a comprehensive needs assessment must be undertaken utilising several data sources such as Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, CSOs, UNICEF and development partners.

“Complete social and economic integration of PWDs is hampered by inaccessible physical spaces and modes of transportation, a lack of assistive technologies and devices, communication methods that are not modified, gaps in the provision of services, stigma and discrimination in the community.

“The entire public sector needs to be revamped and recalibrated to advance the interest of PWDs. This is because there are infrastructure and institutional gaps when it comes to dealing with PWDs.

“The data sources must provide adequate information on the prevalence of disability, type of disability, age and sex distribution, education and employment and access to healthcare and social services: that is to provide data on the access to healthcare, social services, and assistive devices among PWDs.”