By Memory Mudzani
On 23 August Zimbabweans practices their right to vote where everyone was givenn chance to practice their rights by voting but it was a different story for people with disabilities as they are calling for a change in the electoral process approach especially the way polling stations are built in the near future .
In an interview with this publication Mavis Chuma said during the voting day services were better in some polling station but she said that there is need for the government and ZEC to improve their service by protecting the privacy of the disabled people especially the blind people by putting barrel on the ballot paper so that they will be able to cast their votes like everyone else .
Senator Ishumael Zhou said the build environment where polling stations are located is another issue which is affecting the participation of PWDs in the electoral processes especially on the voting day , in most provinces and wards schools are used as polling stations where the infrastructure is built with designs that doesn’t include ramps and this makes it hard for persons with disabilities to access polling stations particularly those who use wheelchairs and crutches so he said they are appealing for a change in the near future so that it will be easy for everyone to access the polling station .
Michael Masunda the President and founder of Disability Youth Advocacy Network in Zimbabwe (DYANZ) told this reporter that inaccessible environments create disability by creating barriers to participation and inclusion, physical barriers in the natural or built environment prevent access and affect opportunities for participation.
Senator Zhou also said to improve participation of people with disabilities there should be reforms in the electoral laws to have a disability inclusive matrix when people want to participate from registration as a voter, voter education and an environment that is friendly and accessible to persons with disabilities.
“ There should be reforms in the electoral laws to have a disability inclusive matrix when people want to participate from registration as a voter, voter education and an environment that is friendly and accessible to persons with disabilities, ” said senator Zhou
Kwedu Classics
Your story our story
