Parliament passes new disabilities law
Parliament has passed the Persons with Disabilities Bill that is aimed at promoting rights of persons with disabilities in various aspects.
The House passed the new legislation on Tuesday with support from both the government and opposition benches.
The law has consolidated the Handicapped Persons Act of 1972 and the Disability Act of 201.
Minister of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare Jean Sendeza, who tabled the Bill, hailed members of Parliament (MPs) for passing the new legislation, saying it will help people with disabilities have better access to health care, education and other services that they need to enjoy.
She said: “Even construction of buildings now will have to be disability-friendly. This piece of legislation, if well implemented, will greatly improve lives of people with disabilities.
“This is what the President [Lazarus Chakwera] has also been advancing that each and every programme should include people with disability.”
Democratic Progressive Party spokesperson on the Bill, Ben Phiri, said the Handicapped Persons Act of 1972 was archaic and it was only proper for government to come up with a legislation that reflects the modern times so that issues of people with disability are properly handled.
Nkhotakota North East parliamentarian Overstone Kondowe (Malawi Congress Party) said the country lacked legislation that effectively addresses the rights and needs of persons with disabilities
Among other things, the new law provides for the establishment of the Malawi Council for Disability Affairs to replace the Malawi Council for the Handicapped.
The new law also provides for the establishment of a Disability Trust Fund to help implement activities that fulfil objectives of the Act and protection of persons with disabilities, among others.
