Persons With Disability (PWDs) in Hwange have called for the
revamping of ablution facilities in their residential areas whose facilities fall
under the administration of Hwange Colliery Company Limited.
Although Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) as part of its corporate
social responsibility housed a number of people living with disability in one of
its villages known as Cinderella residential say the area needs to be revamped to
make it habitable and conducive for people them. They are appealing for the
easy access to water sources as well as establishing ramp passages on the toilets
and bathrooms.
The National Council for the Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe (NCFDPZ)
Hwange Chapter Secretary Rosemary Maketo said their dire situation needs
immediate intervention from the corporate world and the government.
''We are one of the groups of people who are vulnerable in the community we
are living in. Of late we have been surviving through handouts from well
wishers. Now we are failing to access water for our homes and ourselves since
we are always mingling in common ablution which does not always have
water,'' she said.
''Although we really appreciate efforts made by HCCL in accommodating us,
more needs to be done for people living with disability in terms of making them
stay at more hygienic homes,” she added.
Cinderella village accommodates more than 1 000 people and the whole area is
known for water scarcity.
'' Water is only available for two hours every day, and in those two hours there
is a lot of pushing and shoving to gain access to the water. It is then difficult for
us to fetch water in such an environment,'' said Maketo.
She appealed to HCCL to provide them with better houses that have with toilets
inside.
Cinderella village has 23 Common ablutions, among them only a few work and
none are conducive for use by people living with disability.
Meanwhile,the government says findings of the 2022 Population and Housing
Census Functioning Survey have shown the urgency to address broader social
needs of persons with disabilities (PWDs), which include provision
of technology for use at workplaces and educational institutions, among others.
It is also making strides in ensuring that persons with disability are treated
equally with the government approving the State Party Report under the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This will be
through promoting, protecting and ensuring the full and equal enjoyment of all
human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to
promote respect for their inherent dignity.
