28 Jul 2022

There is a need for legislation that gives express direction and grants employers who employ people living with disabilities (PWDs) tax rebates and incentives for the development of reasonable accommodation in the workplace. 

Such a law, according to Mr David Moatshe, would foster companies to hire more PWDs who were not employed. 

Mr Moatshe who is Professional Development and Advocacy Officer for Camphill Community Trust said this when making submissions to the constitutional review at Maruapula community centre in Gaborone on Wednesday. 

“This piece of legislation would help open up opportunities for people living with disabilities,” he said, adding the move would complement available affirmative action policies. 

Equally important, Mr Moatshe stated, was that the constitution of Botswana should have a disability discrimination act which would prohibit discrimination against PWDs at among others; the workplace and other facilities. 

This particular law, he stated, would adequately deal with discrimination involving all forms of harassment faced by PWDs in sectors such as education and provision of goods and services. 

“We suggest that there should be a disability discrimination commissioner under the provisions of the Human Rights Commission at the Ombudsman,” he said. 

Also, Mr Moatshe proposed for the elevation to the supreme law of the land, the disability services act which would acknowledge and promote the rights and inclusion of PWDs in the life of the community in general. 

“This will also ensure that disability services funded by the different government departments are safe, accountable and responsive to the needs of people with disability,” he stated further. 

Accessibility and universal design standards act was another law which Mr Moatshe said should form part and parcel of the supreme law to ensure that the design of the buildings, products, and services were accessible

Also, he felt strongly that the disability education act which would make available tailor-made programs to address the needs of PWDs needed to be enshrined in the constitution. Meanwhile, Mr Moatshe said the use of derogatory language to describe PWDs needed to come to a stop. 

He stated for instance that the word ‘imbecile’’ which was used in some official documents must to be changed and replaced with a politically correct word that suited to address a human being. Ends