Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
World Blind Union - WBU

Zimbabwe

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

The Council for the Blind, Zimbabwe
No reply was received from the Government of Zimbabwe.
Compare with the following Country Report(s): ILSMH, WBU (Zimbabwe National League of the Blind), WFD

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in law, in guidelines adopted by the government and in policy adopted by NGOs. The emphasis in this policy is on prevention, anti-discrimination law, rehabilitation.

Since the adoption of the Rules, the government has conveyed the message of full participation by campaigns by the Disability Board.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by special legislation. The judicial mechanism adopted to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy through the courts), the non-judicial being a government body (administrative).

General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to education, employment, the right to marriage, the right to parenthood/family, political rights, access to court of law, the right to privacy and property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care and independent living.

No new legislation concerning disability has been enacted, since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment which establish national design standards requiring that public places, the outdoor environment and housing are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by a national authority, by local governments and by the organizers/providers of the services. The following services have been promoted by the government in order to facilitate accessibility of the built environment: levelling of pavements, ensuring access to public places and improving accessibility in housing. There are special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities. However, special transport is not available for any of the following services: medical treatment, education, work or for recreational purpose. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language is recognized as the main means of communication between persons with disabilities and others. There are government measures to encourage media to make their information services accessible to persons with disabilities, but no government measures to make other forms of public information services accessible. The following services are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others: literature in Braille/tape and sign language interpretation being available for major events only.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization. There are no legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy making or to work with governmental institutions. Organizations of persons with disabilities are sometimes consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at the national, regional and local level. The government gives financial and organizational logistic support to organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judicial authorities and political parties but to a great extent in NGOs. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is to advocate rights and improved services, mobilize persons with disabilities, provide services and promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Labour, Manpower, Planning and Social Welfare. The committee includes representatives of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, of organizations of persons with disabilities, of other NGOs and of individuals co-opted by the Minister. The government expects the co-ordinating committee to participate in policy development and to perform other tasks, e.g. act as the watchdog of the implementation of the Disability Act. The establishment of the co-ordinating committee has had the following effects: improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved legislation, improved integration of responsibility and improved promotion of public awareness.

The adoption of the Rules has led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy.

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Contents of the WBU Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): ILSMH, WBU (Zimbabwe National League of the Blind), WFD