People with disabilities call for inclusive proposals

Theseus Shambare

AS Parliament holds National Budget consultations across the country, a local non-governmental organisation, advocating the rights of persons with disabilities, Signs of Hope Trust, has submitted a position paper calling for a more inclusive budget.

The paper outlines a series of recommendations aimed at ensuring that people living with disabilities are not left behind in the country’s economic development efforts.

Trust director Ms Samantha Sibanda said despite existing legal frameworks and a National Disability Policy, people with disabilities in Zimbabwe continued to face significant challenges, including limited access to healthcare, education, employment and social services.

The economic cost of disability, she said, coupled with the absence of adequate data, had exacerbated poverty among people with disabilities and their families.

“The 2025 budget presents a crucial opportunity to address these long-standing disparities. By incorporating our recommendations, the Government can demonstrate its commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable society for all Zimbabweans,” said Ms Sibanda.

She urged the Government to adopt a number of measures to support people with disabilities.

“We would want the authorities to provide tax exemptions for small businesses owned by people with disabilities, revise tax relief measures for civil servants with disabilities, increase accessibility to agricultural inputs and business opportunities for people with disabilities, establish a disability digital hub to promote inclusive innovation, create a disability assistive technology fund to support research and development, ensure inclusive housing development, develop accessible sporting and recreational facilities for Paralympic athletes.

“The Government must also prioritise the capacity building of educators to effectively teach and support people with disabilities. This includes creating conducive learning environments and procuring assistive technologies tailored to the needs of people with disabilities,” said Ms Sibanda.

The trust was deeply concerned about the plight of support persons and caregivers of persons with disabilities who had to leave their jobs and cater for their family members on a full-time basis.

“This has a significant impact on the overall family situation.”