The Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) has commended the election of five persons with disabilities as Members of Parliament, describing the development as a historic milestone for disability representation and Zambia’s multi-party democracy.
The newly elected lawmakers are Francis Kope, Lazarus Hakalebula and Misheck Mweemba of the United Party for National Development (UPND), as well as Kennedy Phiri and Mumba Mubanga of the National Restoration Party of Zambia (NRPUP).
ZAPD Public Relations Officer, Rachael Chako, expressed the Agency’s pride in the development, saying the election presents a significant opportunity to amplify the voices and concerns of more than two million persons with disabilities in Zambia’s Parliament.
According to the Agency, the presence of five lawmakers with disabilities in the National Assembly represents an important step towards ensuring that disability issues are given greater attention in national policymaking, legislation and development planning.
ZAPD also commended President Hakainde Hichilema for what it described as laying a strong foundation for disability inclusion, expressing confidence that his administration would continue to promote the participation of qualified persons with disabilities in key positions of authority across government.
The Agency, however, noted that the milestone should serve as a foundation for broader representation, stressing the need for inclusion of people across the different categories of disability recognised under the Persons with Disabilities Act.
It specifically highlighted the importance of ensuring representation for persons with physical, hearing, visual, albinism, intellectual and psychosocial disabilities in leadership and decision-making structures.
ZAPD said the historic election should therefore be viewed not only as an achievement for the five elected lawmakers, but also as an important step towards building a more inclusive political system in which persons with disabilities can participate fully and equally in the governance of the country.
Join Inclusive News Network WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.