National Disability Expo reveals government and CSOs' short comings

Addressing the NANGO Eastern Region disability sector that attended the 6th edition of the National Disability Expo, Special Advisor to the President on Disability Issues, Joshua Malinga called on civil society and government do more to mainstream disability issues within their operations.

Malinga expressed concern over how state and non-state actors are doing little in their planning processes to factor in people with disabilities and are not bringing forward solutions to issues facing the marginalized group.

In his six months in office Malinga has managed to assist the government in mainstreaming disability issues within its operations. This will soon see the government unveiling a policy for people with disabilities. Malinga also said he looks forward to feedback platforms where the government comes in to inform the public on what has been addressed.

The following concerns were raised at the 6th Disability Expo:

• Provision of loans for business and education - Government should avail loans targeting people with disabilities. This encourages people with disabilities to engage in sustainable economic activities.
• Regulating suppliers of assistive devices for people with disabilities - Many pharmacies across the country and other health institutions are selling some assistive devices such as wheelchairs and hearing devices, without actually assessing the patients, thereby profiting at the expense of the people. There is need to license the distributors of these devices so as to avoid wrong disbursement of these devices.
• ZIMRA should reduce tax for assistive devices - The cost of duty charged for assistive devices like electric wheelchairs is unjustifiably. This in turn affects the pricing of these devices in the markets and they become beyond the reach of many.
• Equal opportunities of employment - Many people with disabilities are qualified to be in mainstream employment but the impediment is segregation by the employers. Most do not consider people with disabilities. In the education sector, for example, there are qualified teachers with disabilities but they are not employed because it is alleged that the Civil Service Commission has not streamlined people with disabilities into its policy.
• Mobility Assistance - There is need to assist people with disabilities with transport to and from work, especially state institutions. Some of the people with disabilities are charged extra when they have to commute with their wheelchairs.

 All government ministries and departments should have a focal person who attends to people disabilities - People with disabilities require the same services rendered to able bodied people, however, the state does not employ people who can use sign language at important institutions like Zimbabwe Republic Police and government health institutions. This becomes detrimental especially in situations where patients are given the wrong medication or misdiagnosis due to communication barriers.