Local Government and Public Works Minister, Daniel Garwe, says Government is broadening its efforts to ensure people with disabilities have equal access to public services and infrastructure nationwide, in line with Zimbabwe’s ongoing Inclusivity Agenda.
The Minister made the remarks, in a statement delivered on his behalf by Deputy Minister Albert Mavhunga, at the International Day of People with Disabilities conference, held in Bulawayo, last Friday.
Minister Garwe said ensuring accessible environments is not only a constitutional obligation but a social and economic imperative.
“Accessible environments support independent living, expand economic participation, improve health outcomes, enhance safety, and create a society where everyone feels they truly belong,” he said.
He added that inaccessible public spaces compromise the dignity, productivity, and mobility of people with disabilities and ultimately undermine national development.
The Minister further stressed the importance of inclusive urban design, particularly in the upgrading of public buildings, transport systems, and digital platforms.
“Government will continue working with local authorities and development partners to enforce standards that promote universal access in both rural and urban planning.
“Inclusive infrastructure is a critical enabler of participation, productivity, and independence. It is impossible to talk about sustainable development without creating environments where persons with disabilities can function freely and independently,” he added.
Underscoring the need to strengthen research and training within the health and education sectors, Minister Garwe said, “Increased investment in biomedical research, rehabilitation science, and epidemiology is essential in addressing gaps in disability-related healthcare.”
Furthermore, the Minister noted that new knowledge and evidence-based interventions would help improve early detection of disabilities, expand assistive technologies, and support healthier lifestyles for affected communities.
The three-day conference, held under the theme, “Helping People to Help Themselves, Global Unity and Shared Progress,” called for stronger international partnerships, harmonised disability policies, and inclusive financing frameworks to support infrastructure development.
