Govt launches 2017 economic report in Braille
GOVERNMENT has the responsibility to ensure that people with disabilities are included in the development process by addressing their challenges, says Minister of Finance, Margaret Mwanakatwe. Ms Mwanakatwe said it was in that regard that Government had hastened the process of ensuring inclusiveness in the development process of people with disabilities. She was speaking in Lusaka yesterday when she launched the first-ever economic report in Braille for the blind. Ms Mwanakatwe said her ministry followed the directive from Cabinet Office that all policy and development documents should be transcribed, adding that her ministry intended to follow that and consequently printed 50 copies of the 2017 annual economic report. She said the ministry’s initiative was due to the need to increase awareness to the people on what was happening in the economy. “Taking cognizance of the person with disabilities Act No. 6 2012 in part 5 (40) 3 which reads as follows “The design development and production distribution of accessible information and communication technologies and systems should be made available to persons with disabilities,” she said. The minister said community inclusion could be increased by providing the public with more information and facts about the experience, valued social roles, and contributions made with people with disabilities in Zambia. Meanwhile, Braille proof reader, Regina Mukuka thanked government for the tireless effort to include blind people in its programmes. She said the launch of 50 copies of the 2017 annual economic report transcribed in Braille was a good gesture and a sign that Zambia’s effort towards including people with disabilities in development would enable the blind people to access information without relying on someone to read for them.