DPM’s Office acquires specialized vehicles for Persons with Disabilities

By Thokozani Mazibuko

In a progressive move to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities, the Deputy Prime
Minister’s Office has acquired two customized Toyota Quantums worth more than E1.5
million.

The vehicles, designed with folding ramps and spacious interiors, are aimed at easing
mobility for wheelchair users and others with physical impairments.

The newly acquired Quantums were put to practical use during this year’s Umhlanga
Ceremony, where they transported maidens with disabilities to and from the festivities. Officials
from the DPM’s Office hailed the development as a milestone in ensuring that cultural and
national events are inclusive.

Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla said the purchase reflects government’s growing
commitment to empowering and supporting the disability community. “Accessibility is a right,
not a privilege. These vehicles will go a long way in ensuring that persons with disabilities can
participate fully in national events and in everyday activities,” she said.

The DPM further revealed that the initiative will soon be expanded. “We are excited to announce
that two additional specialized vehicles are expected from a special donor. This generous
contribution will further strengthen our capacity to support persons with disabilities across the
country,” Dladla added.

Disability rights activists have welcomed the move, noting that transport remains one of the
greatest barriers faced by persons with disabilities in Eswatini. “For years, people with
disabilities have struggled with exclusion due to inaccessible public transport. This is a step in
the right direction, and we hope to see more of these vehicles in rural areas too,” said one
advocate, who preferred to remain anonymous.

The DPM’s Office has pledged to continue working with stakeholders to ensure that persons
with disabilities are not left behind in the kingdom’s social and cultural life. Beyond cultural
ceremonies, the vehicles are expected to be deployed for community programs, medical
transport, and other initiatives that require specialized mobility solutions.

Observers have described the development as a concrete demonstration of government’s
commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
which Eswatini ratified in 2012.

With two more vehicles on the way, the disability community is optimistic that such initiatives
will gradually transform accessibility across the country.