The National Development Strategy 1 has helped the government to align its policies and activities with the Sustainable Development Goals to include people with disabilities to ensure their participation in the economic development of the country, a Cabinet Minister has said.
At commemorations to mark the International Day for People with Disabilities on Friday, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, July Moyo said the National Disability Policy launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in June 2021 includes sections that resonate with disability-specific SDGs.
The day was commemorated under the theme ‘United in Action to Rescue and Achieve the SDGs – for, with, and by persons with disabilities.”
The United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) multi-country program which includes Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique and Namibia, this year developed a toolkit for identifying and addressing stigma and discrimination of people with disabilities.
“Although disability is referenced in various parts of the SDGs, it is specifically mentioned in five goals that relate to education, growth and employment, inequality, accessibility of human settlements, as well as data collection and monitoring of the SDGs,” said Moyo. “The focus of the Government of Zimbabwe is now on the human rights approach, which regards persons with disabilities as equal rights holders, who have a right to occupy meaningful space in human settlements, transport systems, education, employment, livelihood projects etc., thus proving that disability is not inability.”
He said the 2020 Education Amendment Act directs special needs education which is designed to meet the needs of learners with disabilities with a section directing that each school submit plans on how they are going to advance the rights of learners with disabilities to ensure that the learners are not left behind.
Zimbabwe has three rehabilitation institutions that offer technical, vocational education and training to persons with disabilities that are Centre Ruwa, Beatrice Rehabilitation Centre and Lowden Lodge.
Laws that protect people with disabilities are the Disabled Persons Act (Chapter 17:01) which prohibits discrimination of persons with disabilities in employment, on the basis of disability and the Schedule 7 of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13), that provides for the election of two Senators of persons with disabilities, one male and one female to represent persons with disabilities in Parliament.
He said his Ministry ensured the active and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities at the voluntary national review consultation meeting that took place at the end of last month and sought to measure national progress in implementing the SDGs and the pledge to leave no one behind.
Source New Ziana
