Parliament Passes Persons With Disability Bill
Parliamentarians have reacted passively towards the long awaited persons with disabilities bill in law.
Speaking after the deliberations Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza said the new legislation will enhance the equalization of opportunities among persons with disabilities in the country.
“This bill will help to improve the welfare of persons with disabilities in the country,
Persons with disabilities have been facing numerous challenges like failing to access social amenities. Health service delivery will be improved”, said Sendeza.
Sendeza added that the law will repeal the
persons handicaped bill of 1972 as it had no relevant matters that affect persons with disabilities positively.
Speaking on behalf of the opposition,the opposition party Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Ben Phiri,who is one of the top members in the party said bringing the bill to parliament signifies willingness the country has to bring equal opportunities towards persons with disabilities in the country.
“The passing of this bill provides an opportunity to align ourselves to accommodate our
colleagues(persons with disabilities).
“We need to align ourselves to the needs of international standards as we are living in a global village and we need to move away from old ways of doing our things. So let us take away the handicapped act”, Highlighted Phiri.
In his remark parliamentarian from Nkhotakota North-East, Overstone Kondowe who serves as the most persons with disability’s mouth piece in the house said the old handicapped act did not recognise some disabilities like albinism, epilepsy and psychosocial disability hance the need for repealing.
Once the president assents to the bill and
gazetted, we will have new Persons with
Disabilities Act.
This is coming amid preparation for commemoration of this years International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Malawi slated 8 December in Mulanje district as confirmed by Fedoma through its Facebook page.
