A LOCAL right’s group, Signs of Hope Trust, has urged government to allocate a budget for Information Communication Technology (ICT) to cater for people living with disabilities.
The remarks were made during a disability Indaba jointly organised by the Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust, Signs of Hope Trust and Star FM.
Signs of Hope Trust chairperson Samantha Sibanda said the non-profit trust lobbied government for the budget without success.
“Many people with disabilities don’t have access to ICTs. The disability digital divide is still under researched,” Sibanda said.
“We have been speaking to Potraz [Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe] and the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Courier and Postal Services.”
Albino Trust of Zimbabwe director Bruce Nyoni said people with disabilities were having challenges in accessing ICTs.
“As an organisation, we are worried about lack of eye health, which is exacerbated by use of smartphones as well as the economy that has gone digital,” Nyoni added.
“We are calling on all stakeholders at their companies to provide anti-blues at the workplaces to make sure eyes are not damaged.”
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