ELLEN MLAMBO

MIRROR REPORTER

MASVINGO- Senators representing Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are planning to set up a bilateral Commission between the Zimbabwe and New Zealand disability constituencies. Senator Ishmael Zhou said this during a meeting with PWDs held last week Monday at the Civic Centre in Masvingo. He said the process is at an infant stage and a preliminary report will be submitted to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare which will take up the proposal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Basically what it achieves is that like any other bilateral Commission, there will be exchange programs that will be supported at higher levels by the Government,” said Senator Zhou. He added that the idea is driven by the takeaway from his visit in New Zealand last year and the acquaintance that he built with organisations of PWDs in that country. “It’s a plan that I have and work is in progress. I have engaged organisations of disability and Disability Affairs in New Zealand and they have welcomed the idea,” he said.