ELLEN MLAMBO
MIRROR REPORTER

MASVINGO – Two Senators who represent Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are pushing for the enactment of an act that will make Sign Language, a compulsory subject in schools.
Senators Anna Shiri and Ishmael Zhou said this to PWDs during a meeting held last week Monday at the Civic Centre.
The meeting was held ahead of Parliamentary consultations on Persons with Disabilities Bill that will be held from 13 to 17 May 2024. The Bill will repeal the Disabled Persons Act Chapter 17:01 of 1992 as amended in 1996.

The Joint Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and the Thematic Committee on Gender Development will hold public hearings on 2 Bills; The Persons with Disabilities Bill (H.B.2, 2023) and The Private Voluntary Organizations Amendment Bill (H.B. 2, 2024).
“In our program, as Senators with disabilities, we want to have a Sign Language Act. We want Sign Language to have its own Act and also to be learnt country wide. It should even be learnt at Tertiary level to cater for those who want to pursue further studies,” said Senator Zhou.
The purpose of the meeting was also to update PWDs on the progress that the two Senators have made since being elected.
George Chidhakwa who is disabled said special schools for the disabled should be promoted and continue to exist.