Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Hon. Doreen Mwamba, has urged the newly appointed Boards for the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) and the National Trust Fund for Persons with Disabilities (NTFPD) to discharge their duties with integrity, professionalism and dedication to public service.
Speaking during the official unveiling of the two Boards, the Minister emphasized that their appointment carries both honour and responsibility, as the institutions play a central role in promoting the rights, welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Zambia.
Hon. Mwamba noted that strong boards are essential for providing strategic direction, ensuring accountability and strengthening oversight, while allowing management to focus on operational matters and programme implementation.
She outlined that the ZAPD Board is expected to enhance coordination of disability programmes, monitor implementation of disability-related policies and legislation, and promote the mainstreaming of disability across all sectors.
Meanwhile, the National Trust Fund Board has been tasked with ensuring efficient, equitable and sustainable delivery of rehabilitation, skills development and empowerment services, particularly at community level.
The Minister further urged board members to familiarise themselves with the legal frameworks governing their institutions, including the Persons with Disabilities Act, and to uphold high standards of transparency and accountability.
She reaffirmed Government’s commitment to disability inclusion in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, stressing that the two institutions remain key to translating policy commitments into tangible improvements in the lives of persons with disabilities and their families.
The ceremony concluded with the formal unveiling of the two Boards, marking a renewed phase of strategic leadership in Zambia’s disability sector.