Story by Patience Nyagato
THE Public Service Commission (PSC) has launched policy guidelines for the employment of persons with disabilities which feeds into the Second Republic’s mantra of Leaving No One Behind.
Aimed at capacitating employers with parameters for employing people with disabilities, the policy guidelines unveiled in Harare this Friday will uphold the rights and dignity of individuals with disabilities.
Secretary to the Service Commissions, Dr Tsitsi Choruma said, “When you look at people with disabilities, you say to yourself why is it important for us to understand their nature. Disabilities are different by nature, some visible, some invisible. They are some that require us to have an individual plan as we employ people with disabilities. The plan is to understand the person with disability.
“We have to create a conducive environment that accommodates them. This can entail the kind of need they require. For instance, say you have employed a person with albinism who has visual impairment, you need to come up with softwares that makes it better for them. Some have the perception that it is expensive to employ persons with disabilities but it is not true.”
The guidelines are meant to address existing gaps in the employment space.
Representing persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe, Annah Shiri said, “It is a welcome development to us as people with disabilities. This paunch is a milestone in our country where persons with disabilities will be given priority in employment. The private sector should take a leaf from these guidelines. Together we can create an inclusive society.”
“One of the important factors is how we can support the government of Zimbabwe in its inclusion agenda in implementing the SDGs. The launch of guidelines is a pace setter for all other government ministries and departments to take a cue on how to include persons with disabilities in the workplace. We remain very committed to support those agendas in terms of public awareness and capacity building and just growing the inclusion agenda,” said UNDP Governance and Peace Building unit’s team leader, Mrs Tafadzwa Muvingi.
The guidelines will inform employers on how to effectively protect the rights of people with disabilities and incorporate them in the workplace.
