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Emily Mbewe Chronicle Reporter
THE government should establish a ministry for people with disabilities that will address issues to do with disability, a senior official has said.

Officially opening a disability expo held by the Office of the President and Cabinet in conjunction with various disabled people’s organisations in Bulawayo on Friday, Zanu-PF secretary for the disabled and disadvantaged persons, Cde Joshua Malinga, said out of Zimbabwe’s population of 14 million people, two million of them were disabled and therefore deserved to be represented at the highest level of government.

Cde Malinga said: “Disabled people are excluded, marginalised and underdeveloped as a result of society’s negative attitudes towards disability.”

He bemoaned the new constitution’s non-committal to disability issues.

“The constitution states that disabled people’s privileges can only be addressed when resources are available which shows lack of commitment,” he said.

Cde Malinga said people with disabilities are a very important constituency and as such should, like any other Zimbabwean, have access to resources, community facilities and should enjoy all the rights enshrined in the constitution which people take for granted.

Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo said the world talks about people with disabilities but no one takes action to assist them.

She said a recent event when there was global outcry over the slaughter of Cecil, the lion, shows the world prioritises animals over people.

“Just last week the Internet and social networks were flooded with messages of mourning for Cecil, the lion. They take the skins and sell them for a lot of money, if we talk of the disabled in Zimbabwe, that they need funds and assistance no one will go onto any social network talking about it,” said Moyo.

The National Disability expo is aimed at raising awareness on disability issues.

The expo attracted more than 40 organisations that exhibited at the Bulawayo Large City Hall car park.

The expo ran under the theme: “Empower through self representation, nothing for us without us for successful livelihoods for persons with disability”.

Retired Brigadier General Dr Felix Muchemwa, national advisor on disability issues to the President and Cabinet, told The Chronicle that the Bulawayo expo was the third edition aimed at empowering the disabled people in Zimbabwe.