Representative organisations for people living wit...

Representative organisations for people living with disabilities applaud Government efforts to better their lives

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Michael Mashiri

Organisations that advocate for equal representation and inclusion for persons with disabilities have applauded the government for coming up with polices that ensure equal participation for everyone.

This comes as Zimbabwe and the whole world celebrate the International month for People with Disabilities which this year was commemorated under the theme: Transformative solutions for inclusive development: The role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world. December 3 kick-starts the celebrations annually.

Henry Kane, the Director of Thisability hub Zimbabwe, said the government had played a crucial role in the implementation of the National Disability Policy.

"The government has come up with policies to assist people with disabilities and improve their lives and the problem is on the uptake which has been very low as the generality of the Zimbabwean population sees people with disability as charity cases," he said.

He added that various sectors of the society had a role to play in ensuring their inclusion.

"When we are talking about inclusion, you cannot include me where l am not invited.

"There should be vehicles that help with access to information to people with disabilities. For example, if people want to spread awareness messages on Covid 19 or HIV to blind people, if there is no use of brail, then how can they gain access to the messages," he said.

Samantha Sibanda who is the Director of Signs of Hope said Disability month was significant as it was coming with a difference.

"The National Disability Policy has helped many people to be incorporated in various sectors. It has also lessened the discrimination that was existing," she said.

The International Day for People with Disabilities is celebrated yearly on the 3rd of December. It was promoted by United Nations since 1992. It advocates for an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the worthiness and well-being of persons with disabilities.

It seeks to increase consciousness of the benefits found from the inclusion of persons with disabilities in every aspect, be it the political, social, economic and cultural life.

In 2021, President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched The National Disability Policy which endeavours to address the invisibility and segregation of persons with disabilities, empower them and better their quality of life. It also enables them to participate towards national development agenda.