University of Malawi asks govt to implement disability Act

Faculty of Law at Chancellor College of University of Malawi has asked government to implement fully the disability act in order to achieve inclusiveness in all sectors of life.

Officials of the faculty said this on Monday during a daylong media workshop on disability rights.

Speaking during the training Coordinator of disability rights at the faculty Dr Enoch Chilemba said they had decided to conduct it after noting that some provisions in the Act are not being implemented such as giving loans to physically challenged people hence fuelling the number of street beggars.

“It is sad to note that four years since the disability Act was enacted there is low progress in as far as inclusivity is concerned,” said Dr Chilemba.

He said government should stop giving excuses for its failures in the implementation of the Act.

One of the special needs and inclusive education lecturers at faculty of education, Dr Elizabeth Kamchezera asked the media and general public to stop using abusive names when referring to persons with disability.

“According to a 2008 survey which was released in 2010, the country has over 490 thousand people with disability therefore abusive words affect their contribution to development,” Dr Kamchexera said.