Disabled people denounce draft Constitution

By Samuel Takawira

With the dates for the referendum already set by the government, people living with disabilities have denounced the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) Draft Constitution saying it does not address their plights.

This was revealed at a press conference held yesterday. Abraham Mateta, an activist for the right of the disabled, queried the COPAC draft constitution over its neglect of disability issues.

“The draft constitution has not properly captured disability; the state is obliged to recognise the right of people with disabilities. A proper constitution must be drafted from a rights based rather than an elitist approach, there is no empowerment of the disabled and we still feel that we are being oppressed,” said Mateta.

Kudzai Shava an activist representing the disabled concurred with Mateta by saying that the draft constitution is elitist in nature and does not cater for the needs of the disabled people.

The five member delegation of the disabled activists who addressed the press conference called on the government to develop programs consistent with capabilities of persons with disabilities and acceptable to them and their legal representatives.

Masimba Kuchera who is visually impaired said the government should craft conditions that corrode the sidelining of the disabled in workplaces.

“We have a serious problem when it comes to workplaces and I’m sure we all know that we are now living in a world in which people with disabilities should be included in all developmental programs hence government should enshrine our concerns in the Constitution.

The COPAC draft does not adequately provide for the rights of the disabled due to the fact that there was no representative of people with disabilities at the highest level of the constitution making process.” said Kuchera.