Senator Shiri Demands Tougher Action on Disability Rights

Harare - Senator Annah Shiri, representative of Persons with Disabilities in Parliament, has called for sweeping reforms within the Zimbabwe’s justice system, demanding stronger legal protection, institutional accountability and harsher penalties for discrimination against persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Her remarks come in the wake of a disability awareness training recently conducted for senior management at the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), which she described as a positive but initial step in addressing deep-rooted systemic barriers.

“The disability awareness training organised by the National Prosecuting Authority is a very commendable move towards ensuring access to justice for all.

"It entrenches the fundamental principle of law which entails that everyone must be treated equally before the law,” she said.

She however warned that training alone would not dismantle entrenched discrimination and structural exclusion.

“This bold move comes at a time when access to disability user-friendly services such as sign language interpreters, braille material and specialists as communication intermediaries is still very scarce, thereby limiting access to justice and making it impossible for disability-related cases to receive fair trials,” she said.

Senator Shiri proposed the establishment of Disability Liaison Officers within the NPA’s Justice and Inclusion Unit, arguing that such officers would bridge the communication and accessibility gap between victims or survivors with disabilities and legal practitioners.

“They would act as a bridge between the victim or survivor and the legal team, ensuring access to quality, comprehensive and disability user-friendly legal services,” she said.

The Senator stressed that access to justice remains central to the full enjoyment of constitutional rights and fundamental freedoms.

“Rights like equality and non-discrimination, freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse, as well as freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment are often violated. Without access to justice, these rights become hollow promises,” she said.

Senator Shiri also condemned public narratives that stigmatise persons with disabilities, referencing recent comments by self-styled prophet Passion Java who allegedly associated disability with curses and demonic attacks requiring deliverance.

“It is in such times where the wheels of justice and the long arm of the law must catch such people,” she said.

She called on government, particularly legislators, to strengthen provisions under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and the Persons with Disabilities Act to impose harsher penalties on individuals who promote discrimination or harmful stereotypes.

“Equality and non-discrimination remain the cornerstone upon which all other disability rights can be guaranteed. However, when such rights are wantonly violated, it perpetuates the vicious cycle of stigmatisation and segregation,” Senator Shiri said.

The NPAZ training, held at the authority’s head office in Harare and attended physically and virtually by senior managers, was organised by the Gender and Wellness Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and the Department of Disability Affairs in the Office of the President and Cabinet.

Deputy Prosecutor General, Chris Mutangadura, speaking during the training on behalf of Prosecutor General Loice Matanda-Moyo, said disability inclusion was a constitutional imperative and urged prosecutors to dismantle barriers preventing PWDs from accessing justice..