Zimbabwe passes Persons with Disabilities Act

The Zimbabwe government has officially passed the Persons with Disabilities Act, which is a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards equality for people with disabilities.

The goal was reached after two years of determined campaigning by Equal Zimbabwe, a coalition campaign of more than 20 disability organisations and civil society groups from around the country.

The new legislation replaces the Disabled Persons Act of 1992 and aligns with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It aims to ensure the rights of people with disabilities are upheld and protected.

The act states that people with disabilities will have equal recognition before the law, including legal capacity and the right to make decisions about their lives. It outlaws all forms of discrimination on the basis of disability, including in employment and education. It also guarantees the right to access public spaces, such as public transport and public buildings, and the right to information and communication technologies. It mandates the government and service providers to provide reasonable accommodation in all aspects of life.

Peter Bare, director of Sightsavers in Zimbabwe, said “The passage of this act is a significant achievement and we are proud of the collaborative efforts made through the Equal Zimbabwe campaign to reach this historic milestone. We’re happy to celebrate the work that has been done to uphold disability rights in Zimbabwe. Ahead of us there is a lot of work still to do. The next step is to ensure effective implementation: we implore and encourage the Second Republic of Zimbabwe to allocate more resources and establish oversight mechanisms to ensure that this law translates into tangible improvements in the lives of people with disabilities, and in line with the mantra of leaving no one and no place behind”

Launched in February 2024, the Equal Zimbabwe campaign has been instrumental in mobilising support for disability rights and influencing policy changes. Campaign activity has included publishing a policy brief outlining recommendations to ensure that people with disabilities can claim their rights, national radio shows and engagements to raise the profile of disability rights, and parliamentary and ministerial engagement. The campaign also supported people with disabilities and their representative groups to be part of the public consultations of the bill across the country.

Brian Sithole, co-founder and secretary-general of the Alive Albinism Initiative, said “I am excited about the passing of this Act into law. It fills me with so much hope for a future where people with disabilities in Zimbabwe are fully recognised and supported. This feels like a real turning point, and I’m happy to have been part of this journey with the Equal Zimbabwe team.”

Watch the video below to hear the Equal Zimbabwe campaign song.