The Parliamentary Caucus on Disability Inclusion and Rights (PCDI&R) recently hosted a meeting in Lusaka, Zambia. The meeting was held among Zambia parliamentarians on various issues affecting Persons Living with Disabilities.
The event was held under the theme “supporting access to human development Resources for persons with disabilities.” Several parliamentarians and delegations from the Zambia Agency of Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) attended the meeting.
The Caucus Chairperson, who is also the Member of Parliament of Mbabala, Joseph Munsanje, said it is important for parliamentarians to be well informed.
It would provide them with the opportunity to closely watch the government agencies working on developmental aspects, hence the need for such engagements.
MP Joseph Munsanje said that the Members of Parliament should prioritize the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. It plays a significant role in developmental tools such as Constituency Development Fund allocations, which include student bursaries, loans, grants, and projects.
Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) Director General Frankson Musukwa was also present among the parliamentary members. He said that the effective inclusion of Disability in all programming, Plans, policies, and laws is a multispectral responsibility of all, including lawmakers.
Further, Director General Musukwa said the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and Eighth National Development Plan requires the formulation and realignment of comprehensive policies, legislations and programs in critical areas such as education, health, employment, Social Protection, independent living and access to services.
He said ZAPD recognizes the importance of ensuring that Persons with Disabilities have equal access to opportunities, services and resources in the quest for national development, hence the need to ensure that everyone, inclusive Persons with Disabilities, is given a fair chance to participate and benefit from the country’s progress.
Meanwhile, Musukwa has thanked Members of Parliament for their unwavering support and commitment to the disability sector. He said he looked forward to more engagements so that the rights of persons with disabilities are upheld, and disability inclusion is achieved in all planning, programming, policies and laws.