Activists slam inaccessible venues for disability Bill

Mbekezeli Ncube

Disability rights activists are up in arms over the recently gazetted Persons with Disabilities Bill. Their primary concern? The designated consultation venues, which they argue are grossly inaccessible to people with disabilities (PWDs) residing in remote rural areas.

The Bill, gazetted on February 9, 2024, proposes establishing a dedicated commission to oversee the upholding of PWD rights. It falls under the purview of the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, currently headed by Minister July Moyo.

Tsepang Nare, a firebrand Bulawayo-based PWD activist, is among the thousands who received the list of consultation venues. Nare isn’t impressed. “Can you imagine?” he exclaims, “The only venue in Matabeleland North is Agape Community Hall in Nkayi. How on earth is someone from Binga supposed to travel hundreds of kilometers for a measly two-hour meeting?”
Nare’s frustrations echo across Matabeleland South as well. “Jaunda Hall in Gwanda? People in Beitbridge, Matobo, and Kezi face the same challenge – ridiculous travel distances!” He emphasizes, “This practically disenfranchises a vast segment of the PWD community, effectively silencing their voices on a Bill that directly impacts their lives.”

Nare isn’t one to sit idly by. He, along with fellow activists Abraham Mateta, Masimba Kuchera, and Samantha Sibanda, have hatched a plan. Dubbed “#ThePWDsBillWeWant” campaign. Their initiative involves a draft letter to lobby Members of Parliament (MPs) across the nation’s constituencies.
“The aim,” Nare explains, “is to create alternative strategies that strengthen citizen participation and engagement. We want to empower grassroots communities to take ownership of this process.” Their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed – they’ve already reached out to 60 MPs.

Mateta, while acknowledging the Bill’s significance, shares Nare’s concerns. “This Bill is a crucial piece of legislation,” he concedes, “but Parliament could’ve done a much better job in ensuring accessibility for PWDs. These venues are all concentrated in urban areas, completely neglecting the substantial PWD population residing in rural Zimbabwe.”

Director of National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH), Joyce Matara, while appreciating the consultation process – “it’s a chance to amplify PWD voices and ensure the Bill reflects their needs” – expresses reservations about the venues. “The vast distances pose a significant obstacle, particularly for those in remote areas who might not even be aware of the Bill’s existence.”

Zimbabwe’s PWD community is making their voices heard, demanding a truly inclusive approach to shaping a Bill that directly affects their lives. With #ThePWDsBillWeWant gaining momentum, it remains to be seen if Parliament will heed their call for broader engagement.