PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD), wishes to state the position on the development of minimum standards and guidelines for accessibility, in accordance with Section 40(3)(a) of the Persons with Disabilities Act No. 6 of 2012.
This provision mandates the Agency to “prescribe minimum standards and guidelines for the accessibility of public buildings and services to persons with disabilities.”
Furthermore, Zambia’s commitment is reinforced under Article 9 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which Zambia is a State Party.
Article 9 requires State Parties to take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to the physical environment, transportation, information and communications, and other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and rural areas.
In compliance with these obligations, the Agency, through multi-sectoral engagement, has already developed draft National Accessibility Standards and Guidelines.
This has been done in close consultation with key stakeholders, including:
1. Ministries and regulatory bodies such as the National Council for Construction (NCC), the Zambia Institute of Architects (ZIA), Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Transport and Logistics, among others;
2. Local Authorities;
3. Development partners such as the International Labour Organization (ILO);
4. Organizations of and for Persons with Disabilities, and civil society organizations, including Disability Rights Watch (DRW).
These accessibility standards are rooted in universal design principles, while taking into account Zambia’s unique terrain, infrastructure development context, building codes, cultural values, and moral ethics.
The result is a document that is practical, enforceable, and reflective of our national realities, with the overarching goal of removing physical and attitudinal barriers that hinder the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities.
In this light, we encourage unity and collaboration in the upcoming validation exercise so that we deliver a robust and lasting Accessibility Standards document that meets the needs of all Zambians, leaving no one behind.
Issued by:
Frankson Musukwa
Director General
Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD).