Disabled welcome duty waiver on assistive devices Minister Mthuli Ncube

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
PEOPLE living with disabilities in Masvingo have hailed the Government for scrapping customs duty on assistive devices saying it will go a long way in alleviating their plight. Zimbabwe Association of the Visual Handicapped National director Timothy Mudarikwa said the National Budget had acknowledged the existence of people with disability and appreciated their challenges.

Announcing the 2019 National Budget last month, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube scrapped duty on all assistive devices which also include vehicles used by people living with disability.

“We are excited with the move taken by the Government to scrap customs duty on assistive devices in the 2019 National Budget Statement,” said Mr Mudarikwa.

He said the Government was now respecting the rights of people living with disability by listening to the voice of reason and called on the powers-that- be to ensure that there was close monitoring of the implementation of the facility.

“We welcome such a noble move, as people living with disability. However, we expect the Government to have checks and balances on how this noble facility is implemented. Our greatest fear is the manipulation of such a noble facility.

“This shows that our rights are being respected as a special group as it was becoming a ‘sin’ to be disabled given the fact that our devices carried heavy duties when imported into the country. Locally they are not available and the duty imposed was discouraging well-wishers from buying such important gadgets for us,” he said.

Mr Mudarikwa, however, called on Government to create a standalone budget for people living with disability, as he felt that they deserved  special attention as a special group.

“I think we need a standalone budget, as people with disability and not to fall under the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Ministry.

“We want the disability fund to become a reality in the same way we have the youth fund and women banks which provide capital for establishing income- generating projects.

“The budget that we have is a blanket budget which does not specifically cater for us, as a key population. We have to be treated the same as war veterans who have their allocation,” he said.

Most assistive devices used by people living disability are not found locally and are imported into the country by individuals or organisations and before the new changes they attracted custom duty.

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey