Congratulations to President Edgar
Lungu
We take this opportunity to
congratulate Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu for his victory in the recently held
Presidential Elections. We congratulate him for assuming the position of
President of the Republic of Zambia. We are glad that there is peace in this
country after the very competitive elections.
Disability Rights Watch (DRW) takes
this opportunity to urge President Lungu to consider the plight of persons with
disabilities, especially children with disabilities, as one of his priority focus
as he governs the country. Persons with disabilities are still among the
poorest of the poorest in Zambia. Women and children with disabilities suffer
more. They suffer more because of the multiple discrimination they face on the
basis of being women or children respectively and that they already are
vulnerable to poverty.
President Lungu and his new team
ought to remember that when one prioritises the plight of the majority poor and
disabled, the plight of the well-to-do and advantaged in society also get
addressed.
There are many issues affecting
persons with disabilities in Zambia. Only a small fraction of the work force
with disabilities is in both formal and informal employment. If they earn a
living, the majority is in the informal agricultural sector and their income is
hand-to-mouth. A lot of youths with disabilities are not in employment on the
basis of their disability. Therefore President Lungu’s government should make
employment for persons with disabilities as a priority.
Children with disabilities face
various difficulties in their education. They do not have adequate and
appropriate learning materials to enhance learning and achievement on an equal
basis with others. The schools do not have adequate teachers trained to handle
children with disabilities in a quality inclusive education system. The built environment
in the schools is not accessible thus scaring children with disabilities to
enter into the schooling system. Even parents of children with disabilities
find it very difficult to take their children to school in fear of
discrimination, bullying and the dangerous built environment. The government
must take measures to ensure that the education system in Zambia is fully and
effectively inclusive for all children.
There reports of increased suicide
cases among youths. The increase in suicide is attributed to the increase in psycho-social
problems which are not adequately and properly redressed. Suicide arises from
psycho-social problems which society causes. The failure to address these
problems is due to a system breakdown in the mental health field. It is
important that the government addresses these mental health issues with
seriousness. It is essential for the government to carry out research on the
causes of mental health problems among youths. It is further important to
ensure that the rights of persons with mental health problems are promoted and
protected. The communities should be made aware of the causes of mental health
problems. They should be made aware of ways of identifying mental health problems
and resolving them with high respect of the rights and inherent dignity of
those who have mental health problems. It is in light of this that we call upon
President Lungu’s government to increase funding to the mental health sector.
In the next twenty months, the
government should ensure the following:
I)
The
enactment of the new Constitution of Zambia. The draft Constitution contains
provisions that protect the rights of persons with disabilities. Therefore it
will be prudent to ensure the Constitution is enacted for the benefit of
Zambians with disabilities among the rest of the other citizens.
II)
Government
should enact the Mental Health Bill which has been within the government
systems for a long time. The Bill protects the rights of persons with Mental
Health problems.
III)
Government
should launch and begin to implement the National Disability Policy and its
Implementation Plan. The plan should be allocated adequate funding in the next
national budget.
IV)
The
government of President Lungu should increase funding to the Zambia Agency for
Persons with Disabilities. Currently, the Agency does not have an operational
Board. Government should immediately put in place a Board for the Agency.
V)
Government
should put in place a new education policy that will promote inclusive
education. Teachers should be trained and retrained to manage an education
system that promotes quality effective inclusive education. Adequate funding
should be allocated specifically to promote inclusive education.
VI)
Government,
through the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities should carry out
massive awareness raising on the rights of persons with disabilities and
show-case their abilities. Aspects of the rights of persons with disabilities
should be incorporated in schools too. The rights of women and children with
disabilities should be prioritised.
VII)
Government
should begin to align all laws and policies to the provisions of the Persons
with Disabilities Act of 2012 and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities which is already ratified. This should include the labour laws.
VIII)
Specific
Statutory Instruments should be issues to ensure the implementation of the
Persons with Disabilities Act. Urgent is the issuing of a Statutory Instrument
to compel all building owners to make their buildings accessible.
Issued by:
Bruce Chooma
Coordinator
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