By A Correspondent

Persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe are advocating for increased inclusivity in the design and construction of public spaces, citing significant obstacles in accessing buildings due to a lack of essential accessibility features.

In Harare, navigating the city can be a challenging experience for individuals with disabilities, as many buildings fail to accommodate their needs, limiting their ability to move freely and independently.

Several individuals shared their personal experiences with ZBC News, stressing the urgent need for better accessibility in public infrastructure. One individual noted, “Some of the buildings are not accessible. There still is a need to do more. We need facilities to put up ramps for us, brailles, and side handles for assistance. Moving about the CBD is quite challenging at the moment. You just end up having to get used to these places, otherwise they are not accessible.”

Additionally, challenges extend beyond just basic building access. “Sometimes we want to buy our daily necessities from shops in the CBD, but the stores are not accessible. We are facing similar difficulties in entertainment and sports industries. We cannot access the facilities there. We need the government to assist us,” another person with disabilities explained.

Supporting this call for change is Mrs. Joyce Matara, acting executive director of the National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped. She advocates for more accessibility in building design, sharing that the organization has begun an initiative to inspect buildings for accessibility. “We assist and point out what is lacking. We came up with guidelines and checklists, and we are currently doing this for free in Harare. There is a need for people to understand that accessibility goes beyond ramps and lifts. Buildings must be properly designed to ensure they are usable. Most buildings today are not accessible for persons with disabilities, yet they are a part of our society,” Matara said.

The call for disability-friendly buildings aligns with the National Disability Policy of 2021, which mandates that all public facilities and buildings be accessible to persons with disabilities.