BCC sets aside two percent of new jobs for persons with disabilities

THE City of Bulawayo has adopted a comprehensive Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Policy that will reserve at least two percent of all new council jobs for qualified persons with disabilities and make accessibility a mandatory requirement in public buildings, facilities and municipal services.

The policy, which was approved by councillors during a council meeting last Wednesday, takes immediate effect and seeks to mainstream disability inclusion across all areas of local authority operations, including employment, housing, healthcare, education, transport, public safety and economic empowerment.

One of the policy’s key provisions commits the local authority to ensuring that persons with disabilities have greater access to employment opportunities within the municipality.

The policy states that council will “ensure that at least two percent of all new council appointments are filled by qualified persons with disabilities by December 2027.”

To support this target, the local authority will introduce a structured quota system aimed at promoting the recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities across all municipal departments.

“Council therefore commits to employ persons with disability who qualify for jobs available in the organisation and will take all the necessary measures to eliminate all kinds of barriers that may make the workplace not responsive to the needs of employees with disabilities,” reads part of the policy document.

In another significant development, Bulawayo will require all new public buildings and major renovations to meet universal design principles and national accessibility standards.

The policy makes provision for mandatory accessibility features such as ramps, level access points, disability-friendly ablution facilities and improved access to public spaces.

The city will also conduct compulsory accessibility audits on existing public infrastructure, including municipal buildings, public transport facilities and marketplaces.

“Council will implement mandatory, systematic accessibility audits across all existing public infrastructure, including all municipal and government council buildings, public transport hubs, and high-traffic areas like marketplaces,” the document states.

Under the new framework, property owners who fail to comply with accessibility requirements after a grace period may face penalties.

The policy also introduces mandatory standards for accessible parking in public and commercial facilities.

“Council will also enforce Standards for Reserved Accessible Parking, establish mandatory minimum ratios and rigorous design standards for accessible parking spaces in all public and commercial parking facilities for Persons with Disabilities,” the report says.

Efforts to improve access to information and communication services also form a key component of the policy, with council committing to expand the use of braille, sign language and assistive technologies.

“Council will continue to improve communication through the use of braille, sign language or other specialist technology and training designed to assist access to current information and key messages in appropriate formats that meet specific needs,” reads the policy.

Healthcare services are also set to benefit from the new measures, with council clinics expected to provide disability-friendly facilities and access to sign language interpretation services.

The policy further provides for the training of municipal health workers to improve communication and service delivery for persons with disabilities.

In the education sector, council intends to establish an Education Accessibility Fund to support learners with disabilities and ensure every learning institution has a Disability Resource Centre.

The city also plans to develop community disability-friendly sporting facilities as part of its broader sports development programme.

On economic empowerment, the local authority has committed to ensuring equitable allocation of informal trading spaces while introducing specialised vocational training programmes tailored to the needs of persons with disabilities.

The policy also provides for financial literacy training, business mentorship and support for micro-enterprises operated by persons with disabilities.

According to the policy document, persons with disabilities make up about nine percent of Zimbabwe’s population but continue to face disproportionate levels of poverty, social exclusion and barriers to opportunities.

The framework is guided by the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2025, the National Disability Policy of 2021 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Council said the policy reflects a shift from viewing disability largely as a medical issue to recognising it as a human rights issue that requires full social, economic and civic inclusion.

“Council, through the policy, therefore commits to the elimination of all forms of discrimination and stigma against persons with disabilities in all its operations,” the document states.

The policy will be reviewed after five years, or sooner if council determines that amendments are necessary through a formal resolution.