Minister vows to punish errant contractors

Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Mary Navicha has warned that her ministry will punish contractors that construct government buildings that are inaccessible to people with physical disabilities.

The minister said this on Wednesday during the commemoration of International Day of Persons with Disability at Chileka in Blantyre.

Navicha said that although there is a law that all government premises should be disability-friendly, it is sad that some contractors are not complying.

She said: “We want to ensure their participation, but how can they participate with such kind of buildings? I will make sure that such contractors should not be paid at the end and have their works demolished.”

During the event, Federation of Disability Organisations in Malawi (Fedoma) presented a petition outlining a number of issues to be addressed to ensure that the livelihoods of people with disabilities in the country improve.

Fedoma board chairperson Jeffrey Wawanya said the petition sought to ask government to fulfill what is contained in the law concerning people with disability.

“We are happy because the minster has highlighted that the ministry has received funds which, among others, will be used to construct houses for people with albinism and this is one of the issues in the petition,” he said.

International Day of Persons with Disability is commemorated on December 3.

The theme for this yea’s commemoration  was Promotion of the Participation of People with Disabilities in All Programmes.