Story by Rachel Shonhiwa
Persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe have called for greater inclusivity in the construction of public spaces, citing significant challenges in accessing buildings due to lack of accessibility features.
For individuals with disabilities, navigating the city of Harare can be a daunting task, as numerous buildings pose significant barriers to entry, hindering their accessibility and independence.
Several individuals shared their experiences with the ZBC News, highlighting the need for greater inclusivity in the construction of public spaces.
“Some of the buildings are not accessible. There still is a need to do more. We need facilities to put up ramps for us. We need brailles and these side handles to assist us. Moving about the CBD is quite challenging at the moment. You just end up having to get used to these places, otherwise they are not accessible,” a person with disabilities said.
“Sometimes we want to buy our stuff from the shops in the CBD, the equipment that we use in our daily lives, but the shops are not accessible. We are facing challenges even in the entertainment and sports industries. We cannot access the facilities there. We need the government to assist us.”
The National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped’s acting executive director, Mrs Joyce Matara is supporting the call for greater accessibility in buildings’ design.
“We have started an initiative to say we come and inspect buildings for those interested, we assist and point out what is lacking. We came up with guidelines and checklists which we move around with assessing buildings. Currently, we are doing this for free in Harare. Also, there is a need for people to understand that accessibility goes beyond ramps and lifts. There is need to make sure they are designed properly, to make sure they are usable. Indeed, most buildings are not accessible for persons with disabilities, yet they are a part of our society. Everyone needs to consider them always.”
The call for disability-friendly buildings is in line with the National Disability Policy of 2021, which states that buildings and public facilities must be accessible to persons with disabilities.
