Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, says it prioritizes issues of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), as an integral component in national development.

Ministry Permanent Secretary, Ms. Angela Kawandami has observed that the commitment for issues of PWDs, is visible through the inclusion and mainstreaming of disability issues in areas of social protection.

Speaking when Disability Right Watch (DRW), paid a courtesy call on her, Ms. Kawandami emphasized that Government is encouraging participation of persons with disabilities in governance issues.

She said apart from including disability as an eligibility category for Social Cash Transfer, as well as paying a double amount to this category, Government has gone further to facilitate for nominations of representatives of some organisations for Persons with Disabilities to seat on various boards and commissions in order to protect their interests.

Ms. Kawandami further assured that the Ministry is available to work in partnership with DRW and other Disability organizations to advance their interests.

And Disability Rights Watch (DRW) Director, Mr Wamundila Waliuya, called for acceleration of commitments that border on people living with disabilities inline with the country’s development goals such as the Eight National Development Goals (8NDP).

Mr Waliuya observed that even if Zambia has maintained the Human Rights Index, issues of Persons with Disabilities still needs more attention.