Gov’t to rehabilitate ZAPD offices

GOVERNMENT says it has allocated funds to rehabilitate provincial offices for the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) in Kasama District.

Disclosing the matter in Kasamay, Kasama District Commissioner Annie Paul has described the current state of ZAPD offices as unfit for human habitation. 
 
Mrs. Paul says considering the state of the offices government has set aside resources from the 2024 Constituency Development Funds (CDF) under the disaster component to work on the offices.
 
The District Commissioner observed that the current state of the offices does not support those moving on wheelchairs, the situation she said forces them to leave wheelchairs outside while they claw to enter into the building to seek for services.
 
The office block that houses the ZAPD office was constructed in the early 1970s, is a death trap to occupants and the general public.
 
Mrs, Paul reaffirmed that government will ensure that people living with disabilities in the district are given the dignity they deserve through among other things the construction of easily accessible structures.

And Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) Northern Province Coordinator Jane Mulenga thanked government for considering to rehabilitate the offices.

 
Mrs Mulenga said the gesture  to allocate funds for the rehabilitation works is a clear indication of the importance that governments attaches to people living with disabilities in the country.
 
She said the ZAPD offices have been offering services to people from all walks of life across the province, but the premises they have been operating from are not conducive.
 
Mrs Mulenga said once the offices for ZAPD are rehabilitated, it will encourage more people who are differently abled to seek services.
 
Earlier Joan Musonda, a differently abled person, observed that offices for ZAPD are too small to accommodate wheelchairs. 
 
She said it is very challenging, especially during rainy season, to come and seek services from the ZAPD offices because people have to crawl in dirt to access the offices.
 
Mrs Musonda thanked government for approving the rehabilitation works for the ZAPD office block.