Online Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council deserves commendation for taking a decisive and progressive step towards building a more inclusive society through the adoption of its new Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Policy. The policy represents a welcome shift from rhetoric to action.
Particularly noteworthy is the council’s commitment to reserve at least two percent of all new jobs for qualified persons with disabilities by December 2027. For many years, people living with disabilities have often found themselves overlooked in the job market, not because they lack the skills or qualifications, but because of prejudice, inaccessible workplaces and systemic barriers.
By creating opportunities for meaningful employment, the city is helping to restore dignity and independence to a group that has too often been marginalised.
However, the significance of the policy extends well beyond employment quotas. What makes the framework truly commendable is its comprehensive approach. It recognises that inclusion is not simply about offering jobs but about ensuring that persons with disabilities can fully participate in society.
The commitment to make accessibility mandatory in public buildings, transport facilities and marketplaces is therefore a crucial intervention.
For far too long, many public spaces have effectively excluded persons with disabilities through poor design. A building without ramps, accessible toilets or suitable parking facilities may be functional for some residents, but it remains inaccessible to others.
By requiring universal design principles in new developments and introducing accessibility audits for existing infrastructure, council is sending a clear message that accessibility is a right, not a privilege.
Equally encouraging are provisions aimed at improving access to healthcare, education and information.
The introduction of disability-friendly health facilities, sign language services and support for assistive technologies reflects an understanding that barriers are often created by systems rather than disabilities themselves.
The planned Education Accessibility Fund and Disability Resource Centres have the potential to transform learning opportunities for children with disabilities, ensuring that no learner is left behind.
The policy also demonstrates a welcome appreciation of the economic potential of persons with disabilities.
Too often, discussions around disability focus solely on welfare and assistance. Bulawayo’s approach instead promotes empowerment through vocational training, business mentorship, financial literacy and equitable access to trading spaces. This is a recognition that persons with disabilities are not merely recipients of support but active contributors to economic growth and community development.
Importantly, the policy aligns with both the Constitution of Zimbabwe and international human rights principles that call for equal opportunities and non-discrimination. It reflects a modern understanding that disability is not a medical condition to be managed in isolation, but a human rights issue that requires the removal of barriers preventing full participation in society.
While the policy is deserving of praise, its true success will ultimately be measured by implementation. Many well-crafted policies have failed in the past because they remained confined to paper.
Council must therefore ensure that timelines are met, accessibility audits are conducted, recruitment targets are achieved and resources are allocated to support the various programmes outlined in the framework.
Bulawayo has often led the way in pioneering progressive urban policies, and this latest move reinforces that reputation. By choosing inclusion over exclusion and opportunity over limitation, the city has set an example that other local authorities across Zimbabwe should emulate.
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi