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

Zimbabwe

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

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

General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in law and in guidelines adopted by a national disability council. The emphasis in this policy - in descending scale - is on accessibility measures, individual support, rehabilitation, anti-discrimination law and prevention.

The Disability Board conducts awareness workshops at different levels.

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 an ombudsman.

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: training, rehabilitation and counselling, independent living and participation in decisions affecting themselves.

Accessibility

There are rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment which establish national design standards requiring that public places and the outdoor environment are made accessible. Accessibility in the built environment is observed by local governments. The following measures have been promoted by the government in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment: levelling off pavements, marking parking areas, installing lifts and accessible toilets and ensuring access to public places. There are no special transport arrangements for persons with disabilities. The most difficult obstacle, when planning to build accessible environments, is economic/budgetary factors. There is no disability awareness component incorporated in the training of planners, architects and construction engineers.

Sign language has no officially recognized status nor is it used as the first language in education of deaf people but it is recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are no government measures to encourage media to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities, but government measures to encourage other forms of public information to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. The only service provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others is literature in Braille.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is no national umbrella organization. There are legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy making and 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 level. The government gives financial support to existing or new organizations of persons with disabilities. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities is to advocate rights and improved services, mobilize persons with disabilities, contribute to public awareness, provide services and promote/organize income generating activities.

Co-ordination of work

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. The committee includes representatives of the Ministries of Health and Social Affairs and of Education as well as of organizations of persons with disabilities, of the Zimbabwe congress of Trade Unions and of Employers¥ Confederation of Zimbabwe. The government expects the co-ordinating committee to participate in policy development, but not to perform other tasks. The effects of the establishment of the co-ordinating committee are improved co-ordination of measures/programmes, improved integration of responsibility and a better dialogue in the disability field.

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Contents of the WBU Report | Compare with the following Country Report(s): ILSMH, WBU (The Council for the Blind), WFD