By Khulile Thwala
With elections around the corner, the government is hard at work ensuring every citizen will be able to cast their vote.
Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku has detailed the continued determination by the state to ensure that election processes are disability inclusive.
In a bid to ensure increased participation on persons with disabilities in the upcoming national elections, the DPM’s Office in collaboration with the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC), and the United Nations have come up with plans to ensure no one is unable to vote.
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The DPM said the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities clearly outlined that the right to vote is critical for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others without any discrimination.
The convention underscores the equal rights of persons with disabilities to participate in political life. The DPM said the convention was therefore the guiding international standard blueprint document in disability inclusion and mainstreaming.
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He further encouraged all aspiring persons with disabilities who want to participate in this year’s elections to do so as the EBC will ensure that the election processes are accessible to everyone, including persons with disabilities.
“It is worthy at this point to appreciate the financial support from UN that has been made available for this significant exercise through UNFPA, in the ongoing United Partnership Programme on the rights of persons with disabilities, which is implemented and coordinated by the office,” said Masuku.
