Zimpapers Logo

Gibson Nyikadzino-Herald Correspondent 

Zimbabwe has adopted a raft of measures that ensure equality and non-discrimination to advance the rights of people with disabilities (PWDs) since the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2013.

The measures, which include availing of employment opportunities to PWDs, were on Tuesday presented in Cabinet by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima.

Other constitutional and legislative measures initiated by Government, development partners and organisations of PWDs include developing two dictionaries, namely the Zimbabwe Sign Language Dictionary and the HIV and AIDS Sign Language Dictionary.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Acting Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said Zimbabwe adopted the measures after extensive consultations with stakeholders.

“Measures have been adopted to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities since ratification of the convention in 2013,” he said. “The convention comprises 33 Articles which provide for substantive rights and freedoms of PWDs. 

“Highlights of developments that have taken place include Zimbabwe’s harmonised national laws, policies and programmes to advance the rights of PWDs.” 

To ensure equality and non-discrimination of PWDs, Government also developed affirmative action policies and programmes such as the Equalisation of Employment Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Policy in the public sector to avail employment opportunities to the disabled. 

Under Article 8 of the convention regarding children with disabilities, there has also been the establishment of the Child Welfare Council under the Children’s Act and the development of the National Orphan Care Policy. 

Dr Muswere said the Government was ensuring that no PWDs would be discriminated in the workplace.

“As of November 2019, a total of 703 persons with disabilities had been employed by the Public Service Commission,” he said. 

“Also, children under the age of five years are entitled to free medical and rehabilitation services at all Government medical institutions.

“On equal recognition before the law under Article 12, constitutional and legislative measures are in place to ensure protection of the right to acquire property. The Disability Revolving Loan Facility is also in place to address lack of capital amongst entrepreneurial PWDs.”

In accessing the right to health, PWDs will also be able to get specialised medical assistance and therapy for prevention of impairments and rehabilitation of disability at Ruwa National Rehabilitation Centre, United Bulawayo Hospitals, Parirenyatwa Orthopaedic Centre and Jairos Jiri, among other medical centres.

In a separate matter, Dr Muswere said preparations on the 2022 National Population and Household Census were now at an advanced stage with 41 493 trained people drawn from the civil service.

The national census will be conducted between April 21 and April 30, with the night of April 20 being the census night.

Census night means even if the enumerators were to arrive at a household on the last day of the census, they will still count only those who slept at that household on the night of April 20.

Institutions of higher learning will be closed during the same period, while to enable a smooth conduct of the exercise, Government has discouraged church gatherings during the enumeration period.