Calls for amendment of Disability Act

Rutendo Maraire
CIVIC society organisations have called on the Government to amend the Disability Act to help people living with disabilities to be considered for employment.

In an interview, Signs of Hope Trust director, Samantha Sibanda, called for proper classification of all forms of disability.

“The Constitution does not define what a disability is or who the people with disabilities are.

“We have a Disability Policy that was launched in 2021 and we are looking forward to seeing the government improving its provisions,” said Sibanda.

Sibanda said the inclusion of people living with albinism, and autism in the workplace, is vital and the government must align all policies.

Tanyaradzwa Matongo, a Harare Polytechnic student, who is living with autism, says he wants to make a difference in the engineering industry.

“In most cases, we are denied access to express how we perform and show our expertise as people tend to forget that disability does not mean inability,” he said.

Matongo also urged employers to introduce policies which eradicate stigma and discrimination.

“I feel any person living with disability must not be judged but be given equal opportunities to show their expertise in their areas of interest,” he said.

Deaf Zimbabwe Trust (DZT), an organisation promoting the rights of deaf people, said employers should treat people with disabilities equally at the workspace.

“Most people living with disabilities end up being vendors on the streets because they can’t handle the pressure of not being considered for a proper job.

“They end up not paying attention to any education or pursuing any skill for fear of not being employed,” said Merlen Chamutinya, the DZT programmes officer.