No political will for disability inclusive electoral processes

The Disability Reform Coalition (DRC) has bemoaned the lack of political will to implement recommendations from lessons learnt during the 2018 election to make electoral processes disability inclusive.

In a statement, DRC articulated the challenges persons with disabilities faced during the just ended harmonised elections which include; No tactile ballot paper for persons who are visually impaired, no sign language interpreters at polling stations to assist voters who are deaf, infrastructure not accessible to wheelchairs and crutches in some polling stations, the font for the Presidential ballot was too small and not accommodating to persons with albinism and low vision, lack of privacy for assisted voters with disabilities and there was no clear signage for the special queue for persons with disabilities, older persons and pregnant women.

“The Disability Reform Coalition is persuaded that access to inclusive voting processes by persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe is a human rights issue and should be prioritised by all stakeholders in the electoral process especially the administration body, ZEC and political parties” read the statement.

Section 67 of the Zimbabwe Constitution states that every citizen has a right to free, fair, and regular elections for any elective public office established in terms of this constitution or any other laws and to make political choices freely. Section 3.2 (7) of the National Disability Policy states that persons with disabilities enjoy and express their right to vote or to be elected, eliminating all provisions and practices which restrict deny their right to vote or to be elected.

The DRC calls upon government to institute the following reforms to ensure inclusive elections

1. Ensure that all polling stations are accessible to persons with physical disabilities according to Section 51 of the Electoral Act (1a) which states that “every polling station shall be located in a place that is readily accessible to the public, including persons with physical disabilities”.

ZEC should capture information disaggregated by disability to ensure that necessary accommodations are made for voters with various impairments

Disability disaggregated data would help ZEC prepare for persons with various disabilities hence sign language interpreters would be deployed where they are needed on Election Day.

There is need for a postal vote facility for voters with disabilities who have mobility issues

There is need for ZEC to embrace new technologies that will enable voters with disabilities to cast their ballot with little or no assistance

All stakeholders including ZEC, political parties and other institutions must ensure that information they disseminate is in accessible formats

Section 59 of the Electoral Act must be amended so that only the nature disability is documented.

DRC member organisations are; Deaf Zimbabwe Trust, National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH),Zimbabwe Association of the Deaf (ZIMNAD),Alive Albinism Initiative, Albino Trust of Zimbabwe, ThisAbilityHub, Hope Resurrect Trust,ZimCareTrust, ARREST Foundation, National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe, Disabled Women Support Organisation, Centre for Disability and Development, Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children Association (ZHCA),National Council of People with Disabilities, and Emancipate Disability Constituency Trust.