By Max Medson Mahara

Salima, May 29, Mana: Ministry of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare on Friday underscored the need to uphold and protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities in Malawi, by adhering to, and implementing, the Person with Disability Act of 2024.

The Persons with Disability Act of 2024 was officially launched on April 15, 2024, replacing the Disability Act of 2012.

Speaking during a meeting to sensitize officials from Salima District Council about the Act, Chief Disability Welfare Officer from the Ministry of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare, Joshua Mkwehiwa, explained the rationale behind the nationwide orientation exercise.

"The Ministry was prompted to come and orient the council because both duty bearers and persons with disabilities, the key players in the Act, needed to know about the change," Mkwehiwa said.

He emphasized that the effective implementation of the Act focuses on the awareness and active participation of both groups.

"Persons with disabilities and the duty bearers are the main focus and key players if we are to say that the Act is effective," he said.

The orientation, which will take place in different districts, aims to shed light on the key provisions of the new Act and differentiate it from its 2012 predecessor.

Mkwehiwa further highlighted a key aspect of the new legislation that separates it from the 2012 Act.

"While the previous Act placed the primary responsibility for ensuring the enjoyment of rights in the hands of the Minister responsible for disability affairs, the 2024 Act decentralizes this mandate, placing it directly on duty bearers and persons with disabilities," he said.

The implementation of the new Act also saw the establishment of the Malawi Council of Disability Affairs (MACODA), which replaced the Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA).

During the orientation, Mkwehiwa spoke on the rationale behind the change, highlighting the effectiveness of the name MACODA in describing people with disabilities.

"MACOHA was discontinued to adopt a more appropriate terminology, as the word 'handicapped' was deemed unsuitable to describe persons with disabilities," said Mkwehiwa.

Vice Chairperson of the District Disability Forum in Salima, Dorothy Mhango expressed optimism that the Act will significantly address issues of discrimination.

"The formation of MACODA will enhance the process of addressing concerns pertinent to persons with disabilities. This will help us enjoy access to rights and many benefits that come with it," she said.

The orientation in Salima is part of a broader national initiative by the Ministry of Gender to disseminate information about the new Act, ensuring that it is understood and effectively implemented across all districts in Malawi.