BULAWAYO residents have criticised the Persons with Disability Bill saying it is not inclusive of persons with disabilities on matters related to access to justice, education and health.
They said this when they were making submissions during the Persons with Disability Bill public hearing held at Lobengula Hall in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
A visually impaired Bulawayo legal practitioner, Mehluli Ndlovu, said people living with disabilities (PWD) were having challenges in accessing justice.
“May the Act ensure that there are sign language interpreters in court,” Ndlovu said.
“Currently, our court system has one interpreter for the whole province. Communication begins at the police stations.”
Ndlovu emphasised the need for the provision of rape kits to assist rape victims with disabilities.
“Secondly, we need rape kits that help us get the DNA of rape victims, through forensics” Ndlovu said.
“We come across issues where the accused persons denied having caused such offences on the visually impaired.”
- Revisiting Majaivana’s last show… ‘We made huge losses’
- Edutainment mix: The nexus of music and cultural identity
- ChiTown acting mayor blocks election
- Promoter Mdu 3D defends foreigners 30 minute set
Keep Reading
They also complained about infrastructure in public places not being user friendly.
Another PWD, Zifa Moyo, said the Bill should ensure that the curriculum developers include disability issues.
“There is no publisher who does a Braille textbook, let alone that small pencil they should use,” Moyo said.
“You say you are leaving no one behind, but they are already behind. Let us consider PWDs as much as we consider everything else.”
Tsepang Nare, a NASCO and Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust representative said it was difficult for PWDs to take their cases to court whenever their rights are violated.
“So the commission should create an avenue for PWDs to submit their grievances,” Nare said.
“Clause 17 talks about discrimination. Let’s criminalise discrimination in Zimbabwe and put mandatory sentences for those that discriminate against PWDs.”
