The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
SPECIAL Advisor to the President on National Disability, Cde Joshua Malinga has blasted public transport buses that have been introduced to ease transport problems in urban areas as not disability friendly saying they are segregatory.
In an interview, Cde Malinga said people with disabilities have raised concern that they were failing to access the affordable buses since they do not have facilities specifically to cater for the people.
People with disabilities are also failing to access the buses due to the stampede that is always associated with boarding the buses as many people are opting for them as they charge 50 cents per trip in cities and towns.
“Zupco buses are archaic, they do not cater for people with disabilities who use walking aids and other accessories. People cannot access the cheaper buses because they cannot even get in which is unfair,” he said.
Cde Malinga said the Government should bring in disability friendly modes of transport to cater for everyone.
“We need transport systems that are disability friendly. We are not living in a world of able bodied people but in a world with a mixture of people and all must be catered for. We need modern buses as a matter of urgency,” he said.
Cde Malinga said he will consult President Mnangagwa on the issue. He said in some countries like South Africa, there were special buses and public service vehicles designed specifically for people with disabilities.
Mr Tsepang Nare from the Rare Diseases and Disabilities Africa Foundation is leading a team of people with disabilities in petitioning the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to avail appropriate transport for the people.
In the petition, they noted that the Constitution takes into account people’s fundamental human rights and seeks to see to it that they are upheld, putting particular focus on the right to freedom of movement.
Mr Nare said there were commendable efforts taken by the Ministry of Labour, Public Service and Social Welfare to amend the Disabled Persons Act of 1992 to be aligned to the Constitution.
Section 22(2) of the Constitution states that “The State and all institutions and agencies of Government at every level must, within the limits of the resources available to them, assist persons with physical or mental disabilities to achieve their full potential and to minimise the disadvantages suffered by them.”
However, Mr Nare said people with disabilities were being left out in issues dealing with transport.
“The private sector’s transport system do not fully accommodate people with special needs/ disabilities, in particular those with physical impairment yet using assistive devices. This is because the space inside the minibuses and buses is relatively too small to fit a wheelchair, let alone board with your crutches or walking stick,” he said.
He also said sexual harassment was also common on people with disabilities.
“Moreover, there is a lot of ill treatment experienced by persons with disabilities from passengers and conductors when boarding these minibuses. Since a person with special needs/disability takes a lot of space due to the use of an assistive device, other passengers end up not sitting comfortably whereas at times the devices may make them dirty, in particular the wheels of a wheelchair. In circumstances where space has been consumed one is requested to pay extra money to cover up for the seat that could have been utilised by another passenger.”
