Review quota system: People with disabilities
PEOPLE with disabilities have called on the Government to reserve at least five percent of employment opportunities in the civil service to them so as to improve their welfare.
This emerged during a consultation meeting on the proposed national disability policy Bill at the civic centre in Masvingo on Thursday. Advisor to the President on disability Cde Joshua Malinga said they were poorly represented in positions of influence in Government. He said the national policy should aim at addressing a number of gaps reflected on by people with disabilities in the country.
“We want the policy to address many challenges that are faced by people with disabilities. We want all Government departments to embrace the five percent quota system where a certain number of employment opportunities are reserved for people with disabilities. Presently, we are only granted two percent and that is not enough,” he said.
He added that the constitution did not adequately address the plight of people with disabilities and it was his hope that the new policy would deal with some gaps. Through crafting the national policy on disability, we are also reviewing the Act on us in the constitution. My fervent hope is that the policy will address some of the challenges reflected in the constitution,” said Cde Malinga.
He said people with disabilities were not participating in key activities because the constitution was silent on the enforcement of some of the privileges.
“Chapter 83 on rights to persons with disabilities, the State does not have a concrete obligation to assist us but it depends on the availability of resources. Our youths with disabilities do not enjoy the same rights with their able-bodied counterparts in many sectors. They do not participate in the economy, health, sport and recreation and that is what we wish to include in the new policy,” said Cde Malinga.
In an interview earlier, Unicef expert on disability Dr Christine Peta said her organisation was partnering the Government on formulating the national policy on disability.
“As, Unicef we are supporting the formulation of the national disability policy for Zimbabwe. We have been to Bulawayo, Matabeleland South and North, Midlands, Manicaland, Mashonaland East and now we are in Masvingo. We expect to finish the consultation on March 5. We have organisations like Copota School of the Blind, Henry Murray School for the Deaf, Federation of People with Disability in Zimbabwe, Masvingo Wheelchair Association and Disability Amalgamation Trust represented here,” said Dr Peta.
She said Zimbabwe was using the Disabled Act promulgated in 1992 and this had been overtaken by events.
“We have ratified the UN convention on rights to persons with disability, a major treat that guides the handling of issues to do with disability. This means, as a country we are not very far behind.”
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