Govt always there for the disabled, says Khaya Moyo

Senior Reporter
Government is committed to improving the lives of people living with disabilities as provided for in the Constitution, Senior Minister of State in the Office of the President and Cabinet Simon Khaya Moyo has said.Minister Moyo, who is also the ruling Zanu-PF’s national chairman, made the remarks at the handover of wheelchairs to people living with disabilities in Epworth.

Minister Moyo runs the National Chairman’s Cheer Fund, which sourced 15 wheelchairs from a Danish citizen, Mrs Marianne Horn, through Plan International.

“The Government of Zimbabwe has always been committed to the quality of life for people living with disabilities as guaranteed in the new Constitution in Section 22,” he said.

“Pursuant to that cause, and consistent with these constitutional provisions, Government promulgated the Disabled Person’s Act (Chapter 17: 01) of 1992, attesting to its resolve in the promotion of capacities and capabilities for the advancement of persons with disabilities.”

As a result, Minister Moyo said, Government would not condone those who violated the Constitution by discriminating against people living with disabilities.

He said the State was working with non-governmental organisations to improve the welfare of the disabled.

The Senior Minister hailed Mrs Horn for her assistance, adding: “I want to challenge other benefactors to give more and more of such support . . . Those who save lives, serve God.

“Government is open to working with such progressive organisations as Plan International. We urge the private sector to emulate such gestures.”

In a speech read on her behalf by her daughter Merete, Mrs Horn said she was excited to be involved in helping children living with disabilities.

Mrs Horn, who is in Denmark, said she saw the need to donate when she visited Kuwirirana Day Care Centre in Epworth.

“On one of the visits, I was told of the great distance that the mothers carry their children each day to get to the centre and that there was a need for wheelchairs,” said Mrs Horn.

Plan International Harare programme unit manager, Mr Vengesai Mukutiri, said the organisation is child-centred and its vision is to create a world in which children can reach their full potential in societies that respect their rights and value their dignity.