ZIMBABWE is excluding at least 1,5 million individuals with disabilities, constituting about 9,5% of the population, from critical decision-making processes that affect their lives, the Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe (FODPZ) has said.
The group cited barriers faced by people with disabilities, who are often denied access to essential services such as education, employment and healthcare.
According to the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities World Report, approximately 15% of any population constitutes persons with disabilities and make a significant portion of the total world population.
In a statement during the commemorations of International Day of Persons with Disabilities held this week, FODPZ said PWDs remained conspicuously absent from critical decision-making processes that impact their lives.
The commemorations were held under the theme Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future.
“Due to stigma, discrimination and inaccessibility, persons with disabilities are less likely to be able to access basic services related to education, employment and healthcare, among others,” FODPZ said.
“The lack of access to vital services and programmes contributes to their marginalisation and exclusion, perpetuating a cycle of poverty.
“In spite of disability being a cross-cutting development issue, persons with disabilities often remain invisible in the global development agenda and are more likely to experience poverty and total exclusion in decision making including on issues that affect them.”
The organisations said the exclusion perpetuated a cycle of marginalisation and poverty, reinforcing the need for a concerted effort to elevate their voices and presence in leadership roles.
“For far too long, persons with disabilities have been excluded from decision-making processes that affect their lives.
“Today, we recognise the leadership, resilience, and contributions of persons with disabilities in shaping a more inclusive and sustainable world.
“For any society to secure an inclusive sustainable future, it should have meaningful involvement and participation of persons with disabilities in leadership positions and roles.”
They said this year’s theme aligned with the continued advocacy efforts of FODPZ in campaigning for the elevation of persons with disabilities to leadership positions.
“The day presents an opportunity to enlighten the society on the challenges that persons with disabilities face in their day-to-day lives as a result of exclusion from decision making positions,” the statement said.
It further indicated that global development agendas increasingly overlooked disability as a cross-cutting issue calling on stakeholders to dismantle the structural barriers that hinder inclusive participation while ensuring no one is left behind in the pursuit of sustainable development.
“This calls for all like-minded development stakeholders to accelerate efforts to bridge the disability confidence gap on both supply and demand sides as well as creating platforms for opportunities of attaining leadership roles and representation by persons with disabilities.
“According to the United Nations Department of Social Inclusion, the 2024 theme reflects the current international political and policy context, in particular the Pact for the Future and the upcoming 2025 World Summit for Social Development.
“It also creates momentum for achieving the 2030 Agenda where persons with disabilities cannot be left behind.”