Providence Moyo
Zimbabwe’s disability community is raising the alarm over critical gaps in the Persons With Disabilities Bill, warning that the proposed law fails to address key demands made during nationwide consultations.
Activists say the bill—currently moving through Parliament—lacks enforceable commitments on education funding, political rights, and accessibility, leaving over 1.4 million Zimbabweans with disabilities at risk of continued exclusion.With a petition now circulating, advocates are demanding immediate amendments to align the bill with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)—before it’s too late.
Disability rights leaders Killion Dube (Director of the Centre for Disability Empowerment Trust) and Msomi Mlilo have slammed the bill for omitting state obligations to guarantee fundamental rights. “The bill is silent on how the government will ensure accessibility, inclusive education, and healthcare,” Dube emphasized. “Without clear commitments, this is just a symbolic document—not a tool for justice.”
Mlilo highlighted the education crisis, noting that the bill ignores pleas for full funding from early childhood to PhD-level studies and fails to mandate trained special-needs teachers in every school. “How can we talk about inclusion when children with disabilities are still fighting for desks, teachers, and respect?” he asked.
Despite April 1st amendments, activists argue the bill recycles outdated provisions from the repealed Disabled Persons Act, neglecting proposals for a progressive, CRPD-aligned law. A major point of contention is the lack of a dedicated Disability Rights Commission to enforce accountability.
The sector’s petition demands Parliament correct these gaps before the bill passes. “We need a law that doesn’t just mention rights but ensures th Dube stressed. With Zimbabwe ranking 142nd globally on disability inclusion (World Health Organization), the stakes couldn’t be higher.
