04 Dec 2025

The Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa has declared the official commencement of Persons with Disability Act of 2024, which aims to advance the rights of persons with disabilities and promote inclusion and equal opportunities.

He said in addition to aligning with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Botswana was party to, the legislation also resonated with the government’s commitment to being human rights-based.

“This historic moment signifies that the rights of persons with disabilities are now fully recognised and enforceable under the law,” said the minister at the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities Commemoration held in Jwaneng yesterday.

Consequently, Mr Mohwasa noted that the official commencement of the Act implied that the Disability Coordination Office and the National Disability Council were fully operational, while the regulations defining a person with disability had been finalised. He noted that this development paved way for the effective implementation of the statute, urging all institutions to immediately align their operations with the Act.

The Minister underscored the need to adopt inclusive programmes through providing accessibility in all public buildings and transport to cater for persons with disabilities, as well as getting rid of all barriers that were against the new framework.

“With the Act now in force, we call on all institutions, communities and citizens to take immediate action. Public buildings, businesses and transport must meet accessibility standards. All forms of communication must be inclusive and the attitudinal barriers that hinder full participation must be dismantled,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr Mohwasa implored persons with disabilities to unapologetically stand by their rights as espoused by the law and utilise all opportunities availed to them. He also appreciated the role played by care givers of persons with disabilities.

However, while he appreciated that Botswana had made strides in advancing the rights of all citizens, he said there was need for further action to close all gaps to ensure no one was left behind.

“We are committed to creating systems that respond to the need of every citizen, particularly those who are historically faced with barriers to opportunities,” he said.

For her part, the Disability Coordination Officer Director, Ms Peggy Garebaitse noted that creating an inclusive society called for celebrating diversity and promoting full participation of persons with disabilities.

She noted that this also extended to ensuring equal access to health services, education and social protection, among other essentials for the benefit of the larger society.

“Inclusive societies amplify the voices of the marginalised groups, empowering them to contribute to sustainable development and advancement of human rights,” she noted.

Ms Garebaitse said Botswana had a significant number of persons with disabilities, and therefore excluding them from full participation was tantamount to hindering the collective growth of the country.The commemoration was held under the theme: Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress. ENDS