The announcement made by the Minister of Presidency on the imminent commencement of the Persons with Disability Act No.6 of 2024 is a welcome development. However most the times these types of pronouncements are often than not followed by inaction.
It is our expectation that the Minister’s zeal shall result in actual immediate protection of persons with disabilities, and future strategic safeguards of their rights to self determination.
The Act provides ordinarily and to a larger extent with surgical precision for the real protection of persons with disabilities in their everyday lives.
The key takes from the Act are:
1. The establishment of the Disability Coordination Office and National Disability Council.
2. The prohibition of discrimination and promotion of equal opportunity for disabled individuals in work, education, and access to public spaces.
The above echoes the long desired equitable dispensation yearned for by the persons with disabilities in Botswana.
While the Minister alluded to the ongoing process of the development of the regulations, it is our hope that there shall be wider inclusive consultations. These in our view shall take into consideration the emerging technologies and socioeconomic-political realities.
The hyped global embracement of Artificial Intelligence (1) should find its into Regulations as it can go a long way to alleviate some of the most pronounced challenges in access to infrastructure, education and other services.
FRETUM believes that in all endeavors of Botswana Government especially in an effort to address inequality and creation of equitable dispensations, the affected people with disabilities and their organizations shall be given the opportunity to exercise their right to self determination.
We encourage the Botswana Government to heed the slogan “Nothing About Us Without Us”, in order to ensure full participation of people’s with disabilities in processes of legislation formulation.
