REFORMED CHURCH UNIVERSITY
(A REFORMED CHURCH IN ZIMBABWE INSTITUTION)
ASSIGNMENT MARK FORM
FACULTY: COMMERCE
DEPARTMENT:
STUDENT NUMBER: B08241162
NAME: TAKUNDA GWESHE
PROGRAM: BACHELOR OF COMMERCE HONOURS DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING
COURSE: RCUH 102
LECTURER: Mr Makombe
CELL NUMBER: 0774219270
EMAIL: takundamitchelgweshe@gmail.com
TOPIC: Examine the significance of the National Disability Policy of 2021 to individuals with
diverse needs in Zimbabwe.
Due Date:
MARKER’S COMMENTS:
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overall mark
Diversity is recognizing, respecting and valuing differences among people. It involves
understanding that each individual is unique and these differences can be gender, age, disability
and religion. Diversity contributes significantly to societal vitality and promotes cultural,
economic and social growth by combining different viewpoints which lead to innovation and
better decision making within communities and organizations. The understanding and
implementation of diversity in today’s world are crucial as it brings about inclusion and equity
among people. Because of its importance, diversity has lead to the formation of the National
disability policy of 2021 to try and address diverse needs.
Diversity encompasses people living with disability. Some societies approach disability from a
charity perspective. The charity model reduces persons with disabilities to passive objects of
kind acts or donations rather than as empowered individuals with rights to participate in political
and social life and in their individual development. This approach disempowers persons living
with disabilities and leaves them with little control over their lives and they have little or no
voluntary participation in social and political activities. Instead of becoming self-reliant as
advocated for in Section 83(a) of the constitution of Zimbabwe under this model, persons with
disabilities are dependent on society’s welfare. When a couple gives birth to a person with a
disability say blind, society used to shame such a couple and refer to it as ‘’mashura’’ or a bad
omen to the extent that the child would be hidden inside the house so that people would not see
him or her. This meant that the child was deprived of his social rights and his right to an
education.
Upon growing up into an adult that child knows nothing about self empowerment and self
reliance so much so that when the parents pass on they resort to begging for help. This is clearly
seen in Zimbabwe whereby in every street in the central business district you ought to find the
blind seated in pavements begging for money or help. Also in church set-ups we see
congregations donating food and clothing to their church members instead of empowering them
and when that food runs out, the process is repeated over and over again. The National Disability
Policy then kicks in where it seeks to empower people with these diverse needs. Firstly the blind
are no longer referred to as ‘’the blind’’ but visually impaired and states out that whoever gives
birth to a person with any impairment be it visual or hearing impairment must not hide the child
but instead bring forth the child so they can acquire an education.
To make life easier for parents of such children, the policy states that persons with disabilities
must be exempted from paying fees and levies at all public learning institutions. The education
of learners who are blind, deaf or deafblind must be delivered in the most appropriate languages
and modes and means of communication for the individual. To facilitate this, the policy states
out Standard Zimbabwean Sign Language, which is governed by a Sign Language authority must
be established in collaboration with the Zimbabwean Deaf community as well as ensure the
learning of Zimbabwean Sign Language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the Deaf
community. A Zimbabwean Braille Code which is governed by a Braille authority must be
established in collaboration with the Zimbabwean blind community. In this regard therefore, The
National Disability Policy is significant is that where a policy is made, it means the government
is mandated to provide the above to ensure the education of the impaired flows smoothly in the
most appropriate and understandable language. The educational needs of persons with disability
are dealt with in section 83(e) of the constitution of Zimbabwe which says the State can provide
for the special facilities for their education. This means that the National Disability policy is
significant as it is an enforceable law.
Employment or work is central to enhancing the well-being and quality of life for a people with
diverse needs particularly those with a disability.
According to the International Labor Organisation, 60% of people with disabilities are of
working age and yet they experience an unemployment rate of 80-100% higher than nondisabled workers. Very few organisations take the initiative to employ people with disabilities
because they do want to associate themselves with the burden of having to ‘’take care ‘’ of a
person with a disability and their organisational policies are not inclusive as a result, a number of
people with disabilities are excluded from meaningful employment and have low levels of
income Also because no education is received as was in the past ,employment pooortunites were
minimal as they did not have the basic skill required in that particular field of work. The National
Disability Policy is thus significant in that it addresses organisations to strive to ensure that a
minimum of 15% of the workforce of all organisations across all sectors comprise persons with
disabilities. Persons with disabilities must be employed on the basis of skills, merits,
qualifications, knowledge and abilities, and not just on the basis of disability. This fosters a sense
of belonging and empowers those with diverse needs as a job is offered in respect of skill, merit,
knowledge, abilities or qualification and not on mere pity.
Because it is regarded to as a bad omen to have given birth to a person with diverse needs such
as a disability, society often tries to ‘’fix’’ the person. This results in excessive exploitation of
the individual in a bid to try and find a solution to them ‘right’ or similar to others. In order to get
rid of this issue, the National Disability Policy has stated out that it is a prosecutable offense to
traditional healers, religious prophets and contemporary health staff and allied professionals and
any other persons that exploit and abuse persons with disabilities under the guise of “curing”
disability. This in its essence shows that the Policy is significant others if left do away with
anything, our disabled would all perish being experimented on.
More so, National Disability Policy is significant because it has facilitated that the musical and
sporting interests, talents and skills of persons with disabilities must be promoted and supported.
The significance of such is felt greatly in the musical industry where we see the likes of Chipo
Muchegwa making waves in the music industry.
However, the National Disability Policy has been insignificant to individuals with diverse needs
in Zimbabwe. This so because by addressing the problem of lack of education to children with
diverse needs such as the mentally challenged through special schools and classes for these
children there has been a high level of discrimination. Where these children were supposed to
access education, society has segregated them and refer to them as ‘Zim care’ whereas
Zimbabwe Care was created to address this problem. This worsened the already prevailing
situations of people living with diverse needs.
The National Disability Policy emphasizes that at least 15% of the employers in an organization
should comprise of people with diverse needs but up to date, this has not been achieved so far
rendering it insignificant. Accessibility still remains a challenge for people with diverse needs in
Zimbabwe. For the visually impaired access to basic facilities such as elevators remain a
challenge as none of them have braille. Again ,for those on wheelchairs ,access to ablution
facilities remains a challenge as they cannot climb up and down the stairs for access as in the
case of a Harare toilet, between Jason Moyo and First Street.
In conclusion, The National Disability Policy is significant to people with diverse needs in
Zimbabwe. This is so because it encourages the education of people with diverse needs by
providing free education facilities for them. Also those seem to deprive the rights of people with
diverse needs are mandated by the law not do so and if they do the they face the penalty. This
has made sure that people with diverse needs feel part and parcel of the society thereby fostering
inclusivity.
References
UNESCO (2006) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability. New York: UN
National Disability Policy (2001)