Staff Reporter

Government is committed to promoting and protecting persons with disability a move aimed at ending stigmatization of all the affected persons including those with Autism.

Speaking during a belated World Autism Commemoration Day today in Harare, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Paul Mavhima said, “The Constitution of Zimbabwe and the National Disability Policy which was launched by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe on 9 June, 2021, clearly articulates the Second Republic`s commitment towards fulfilling, promoting, protecting and respecting the rights of persons with disabilities, including the rights of persons with Autism.”

Minister Mavhima said that the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day adding that the aim of the day is to raise awareness on Autism and to encourage people to support persons who are affected by Autism, thus also promoting kindness towards them as some of them may rely heavily on others for assistance.

He said that the National Disability Policy [2021] came at a time when the nation was moving towards achieving the national vision of an Empowered and Prosperous Upper Middle-Income Society by 2030, which does not leave any persons or place behind.

“The National Disability Strategy 1 [2021-2025] clearly acknowledges disability as a cross-cutting interdisciplinary issue, thus providing evidence that the Second Republic acknowledges persons with disabilities including persons with Autism as persons, who, along with everyone else have human rights,” he said.

Minister Mavhima highlighted that persons with disabilities must occupy all facets of life including education and employment.

He bemoaned some parents who abandon their children born with Autism believing that they would have been bewitched.

He informed the gathering that the Department of Disability Affairs in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, is committed to working closely with all persons with disabilities and their representative organizations.