Zambia has made positive strides by incorporating persons with disabilities in various levels of national development.

Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Ms. Doreen Mwamba has noted the improved disability inclusion by training organizations for persons with disabilities across the country in national planning, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation.

Speaking when she virtually gave her general statement at the ongoing convention on the rights of persons with disabilities in New York, USA, the Minister affirmed Zambia’s commitment to promote active and full participation of persons with disabilities in national development processes to strengthen advocacy for disability inclusion across government sectors.

Ms. Mwamba further disclosed that a plan to facilitate capacity building of government in disability-compliant budgeting has been developed and planned to be rolled out in July 2024, to ensure that more resources are committed to enhancing disability inclusion.

And Ms. Mwamba has disclosed that implementation of shock-responsive social protection initiatives to benefit persons with disabilities has also been enhanced as they are the most affected in times of emergencies and disasters.

She therefore disclosed that the government has since enhanced their inclusion in social support services through a nationwide enumeration and rapid response assessment conducted following the declaration of a national disaster.

“The state party has also transformed the appointment of focal point persons in government ministries and institutions into focal point teams. This transformation aims to enhance collaboration and innovation for better outcomes in disability mainstreaming within institutions”, Ms. Mwamba further said.

She however acknowledged that while the state party has made significant efforts to enhance disability inclusion in the development agenda, there are still many gaps in realizing full disability inclusion.

Ms. Mwamba cited knowledge deficiencies in technology, policies and laws, high costs related to information communication technology ICT, and stigmatization, as some of the many gaps that must intensify collective actions to implement strategies to accelerate the actualization of disability inclusion at this juncture and foster sustainable interventions for the future.