#ElectionsZW: Parties should be taken to task over pledges to disabled people
Disability activist Masimba Kuchera says political parties in the country should be taken to task over their promises to people with disabilities.
Persons with disabilities have been missing in places of decision making, a development that has seen their issues relegated from priority.
According to Kuchera, political parties are better placed to ensure persons with disabilities get into positions of power such as Parliament.
Kuchera said promises were made and it’s time for political parties to be taken to task over their promises.
In an interview on Tuesday Talk, he said ‘’I think political parties should be taken to task a bit more in terms of what they pledged for people with disabilities and in terms of what they believe internally.
‘’So, if political parties can then be able to have more people with disabilities it’s clear that those people will get into Parliament. So, political parties have a lot of weight to pull that which they are not pulling to make this a reality.
‘’So, our engagement also goes to political parties to say how best can you also help with this push for self-representation,’’ he said.
Currently, there are only two legislators representing people with disabilities, out of the 350 legislators in Zimbabwe.
The legislators are in the Senate which has no power to alter money bills during budget formulation.
Issues related to persons with disabilities are often under-funded with the government always arguing that it has no financial legroom.
Zimbabwe is going to hold by-elections in March this year, to replace legislators and councillors who were recalled.
Most of the recalls were due to political party factional fights, especially in MDC-T and Zanu PF.
There are about 28 National Assembly seats that are vacant and about 117 local authority seats.
However, persons with disabilities are not fully represented among the candidates that were nominated for the by-elections.
#ElectionsZW: Parties should be taken to task over pledges to disabled people
