By Decide Nhendo
Persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Masvingo have called on government to include them in all developmental projects, policy making and other important national issues.
This emerged from a Disability Bill meeting that was held at Charles Austin Theatre by two Members of Parliament (MPs) representing PWDs, Senators Anna Shiri and Ishmael Zhou, who were raising awareness on the Bill.
Speaking at the meeting, National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe chairperson Tavengwa Mazhambe said the bill should include PWDs in all social welfare and government grants despite their location as there were some instances where PWDs in urban areas where being excluded.
“The bill must give merit to all PWDs so that they can get access to social welfare and government grants regardless of where one lives especially in disasters like this El Nino induced droughts, because I heard that social welfare was only targeting PWDs in rural areas, excluding those living in urban areas,” said Mazhambe.
Disability Amalgamation Community Trust Executive Director Henry Chivhanga said the disability bill must give capacitation to PWDs so that they can be able to work for their own progress and development.
He said commissioners who were to represent PWDs should not be selected within groups, associations, or political parties as those affiliated to specific political parties can sideline others.
“This bill must give PWDs power to make their own projects for better living conditions.
“Commissioners who are going to represent PWDs must not be taken from certain political parties, associations or groups, but they are supposed to be individuals driven by zeal to stand for all PWDs,” said Chivhanga.
One attendee Godfrey Mutimba said there was need for PWDs representatives in quotas like youth and women since PWDs were more vulnerable compared to the other groups who have been lately represented.
Mutimba said there was supposed to be a representative in parliament where laws are enacted to make sure that issues PWDs face are put into consideration.
“The disability bill must include issues like a quota system because we only have youth and women quotas of which all these groups are not vulnerable like PWDs, hence there is need for representation of the PWDs just like the other groups deemed to be defenseless.
“For our issues to be prioritized, there is need for PWDs representatives in national assembly since the house is where all laws and policies are made, having representatives there will be an advantage to us because they will come up with bills and policies to us,” said Mutimba.
Mutimba also added that when the bill is to be presented to PWDs in May, it was supposed to be translated into all indigenous languages so that everyone, including those who do not understand English will not be vexed by complexity of its legal contents.
Senator Anna Shiri said they had been engaging PWDs and stakeholders across the nation for deliberations on the Disability Bill, and she added there was need for more representatives as they were only two in the whole country.
She said PWDs should stand for themselves and come up with ideas through debates especially when national issues were being discussed and presented so that they will be included in policy making, developmental projects and other important national events.
“We have been meeting with PWDs and other stakeholders from around the country, it is clear that we need more representatives to stand for PWDs as currently we are only two people.
“PWDs must stand for themselves and this meeting presents a platform for you to come up with ideas so you can be included in national policy making as well as important national events which include developmental projects,” said Shiri.
