PEOPLE with disabilities (PWDs) in Matabeleland region say they are facing a cocktail of challenges, including lack of sign language recognition as an official language and stigmatisation rooted in cultural beliefs among other difficulties.
This emerged during the recent Parliamentary Caucus on Persons with Disabilities at the 10th Parliament Strategic Plan discussions held in Bulawayo.
There were indications that with 9,2% of the population living with disabilities, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency 2020, the challenges are vast.
Some of the key concerns raised included the need for sign language to be recognised as one of the country’s official languages. Zimbabwe has 16 official languages.
Participants also indicated that stigmatisation rooted in socio-cultural beliefs continued to marginalise people with disabilities, exacerbating their struggles in accessing education, healthcare and social inclusion.
The resourcing of support systems, limited by fiscal constraints, adds to the burden, leaving many parents and caregivers to navigate emotional and financial strains with little external support.
Secretary of the Parliament Caucus on Disability Affairs and Hwange Central legislator, Daniel Molekele, said parliamentarians were in support of the Persons with Disabilities Act tabled before Parliament.
“We look forward also to make sure that the national policy on disability is not only updated, but also practically implemented,” he said.
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“So we want to see growth even from a constitutional point of view. We want to see changes in the Constitution that are going to uplift persons with disabilities in such a way that they are not left behind.
“Remember that they’ve been poor cousins for other agendas. For example, the youth agenda, they’ve had some traction, even in the Parliament of Zimbabwe quota system.”
Zanu PF deputy chief whip Conrad Jericho Gotora said the idea of having a disability desk was ineffective.
“This issue of saying we must have a disability desk remains a desk. A desk does not do anything. What we require are either departments or sections in every ministry,” Gotora said.
“This is a section, a comprehensive section, which deals with the disability issues, rather than just a desk with one person who does not have any responsibilities. It’s just a desk.”
Gotora said parliamentarians were also pushing for a disability mainstreaming budget.
“If you look at the amount of money that is put on those budgets, they are minimal. They will not have consulted anybody,” he said.
“This is why I agreed with the speaker from the President’s Office when he was talking about participatory rural appraisal.”
Gotora said all areas in Zimbabwe should be appraised through the participation of the residents, so that they are able to identify people living with disability in their areas.
“They will be able to tell you because they know. That’s the other issue. We must allow them to participate and participate effectively, not only their own.
“They must participate with the rest of the community, so that they become active participants in the given community,” he said.
“And when those people now talk about development or things like roads, like the issue of boreholes, there could be one disabled person in a given area.
“But if that one disabled person is communicating with the rest of the people, when they go and cite the borehole, they will know where to cite it.”
He said this could ensure inclusivity.
“The Department of Social Welfare, what we call the department of social development, again in government is very poorly funded at the district level. They don’t even have a car and you don’t expect someone in Plumtree, Bulilima and Mangwe to walk around on foot,” Gotora said, adding that offices at district level should be well resourced to move around in the villages and wards.
The caucus workshop was aimed at developing strategic priorities such as establishing clear, actionable strategic priorities that align with national, regional and international frameworks.
