Dowa council oriented on Persons with Disabilities Act of 2024

Dowa, May 28, Mana: The Department of Disability and Elderly Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare has tasked duty bearers in Dowa to promote advocacy and implementation of the new Persons with Disabilities Act of 2024 in their programming.

Chief Disability Affairs Officer, Joshua Mkwehiwa, made the remarks on Wednesday during an orientation on the Act for Dowa District Council and other stakeholders, held at the MANAC Conference Centre.

Mkwehiwa said the orientation aimed at informing the council on the new Act, which has repealed both the Disability Act of 2012 and Handicapped Persons Act of 1971.

“The objective of the meeting was to promote understanding and comprehension of the Persons with Disabilities Act by key officials of the district councils and to aid duty bearers in understanding their prescribed obligations and duties in line with the Act.

“Also, to highlight rights of Persons with Disabilities covered by the Act, to strengthen advocacy work of District Disability Forums (DDFs) for effective utilization of the new disability law. So overall, it aimed at raising awareness and promoting implementation of the law,” he said.

The orientation also aimed at informing the council on the establishment, role, power functions of Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) under the Act.

He said the previous legislations have been repealed because of both administrative challenges faced and strides made in human rights issues.

“For example, The Disability Act of 2012 could not achieve its desired impact as the obligations to ensure the enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities was placed on the Minister responsible for disability affairs and not the appropriate duty bearers.

“The Handicapped Persons Act of 1971 was also outdated as it was enacted before the current Constitution was adopted. As such, the current practice of addressing disability matters from the human-rights and development approach conflicted this old Act, rendering it irrelevant,” he said.

Amongst others, the new Act aims at promoting and protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities, as enshrined in the constitution, and protecting persons with disabilities from inhuman and degrading treatment.

In an interview, MACODA District Manager for Dowa, Billy Maopa said the training was important in empowering stakeholders in the district.

The Act, he said has many benefits like enhancing the participation of persons with disabilities in social protection programs.

“There has been a cry that persons with disabilities are not adequately included in such programs like Social Cash Transfer.

“But now there is a provision in the ACT that mandates MACODA to ensure people with disabilities are well incorporated into these programs. So, it is a very welcome development,” said Maopa.

Speaking on behalf of the Director of Economic Planning and Development, Takondwa Katsabola said the ACT will enhance the already existing council’s inclusion strategies in place.

Also, that the council will make sure that the Act is adopted by all stakeholders in the district.