People with disabilities accorded opportunities in politics

Sibongile Ndiweni, Sunday News Reporter

IN a move set to ensure that Zimbabwe is a better place for all its citizens, the Second Republic has continued with its mantra of leaving no one and no place behind by ensuring that people with disabilities are accorded opportunities in politics so that they can advocate for their constituency and benefit from various economic opportunities.

As we approach the 2023 Elections, People with disabilities will always be protected on their right to vote which is a fundamental right for every living person, and will be safeguarded. Zanu-PF Bulawayo province secretary for disabled and disadvantaged people, Cde Tafuma Zhou said the National Disability Policy was being implemented to ensure that people with disabilities can participate in the political sphere and in all facets of society.

He said the establishment of people with disabilities’ offices in Ministries was a good way to advocate for people with disabilities from grassroots level to upper government level as well as in the ruling party.

“In the party structure there are positions meant for people with disabilities and through the Zanu-PF party constitution we have begun to implement it,” said Cde Zhou.

He said this has opened access to economic opportunities for young people and women and has created a path that breaks the dependency syndrome.

“Myself as a visually impaired person contested for an MP position in the Entumbane-Emakhandeni constituency during the 2018 harmonised elections. Although I lost to the opposition, getting the platform to contest shows that the Government of Zimbabwe has inclusivity for people with disabilities in the political sphere,” he added.

The voting system in the country has also seen that people with disabilities are catered for where among other issues the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission provides for a person with disability at every polling station to act as a focal person when the need arose.

There is also a sign language interpreter while the visually impaired are allowed to go in the voting process with their personal assistants from home.