THE majority of Zimbabwe’s hotels and other tourism services have failed to install user-friendly facilities to people living with disabilities (PWDs), an official has lamented.
BY REJOICE CHINGWARU
A senator representing people living with disabilities, Anna Shiri, recently said the failure to accommodate PWDs was a direct violation of the Constitution.
She called on hotel owners and stakeholders to renovate their buildings with PWDs in mind.
“Our hotels need a lot of work. They do not have facilities that cater for persons with disability, particularly bathroom facilities, and that should be corrected,” Shiri said.
Zimbabwe Paralympic Committee secretary-general Lewis Garaba also said they had struggled to get accommodation for the Paralympic team because of the discriminatory nature of facilities at most hotels.
“My colleagues and I have experienced difficulties staying in our local hotels because the facilities are not accommodative. Despite speaking about these problems, nothing has been done,” Garaba said.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry deputy minister Annastacia Ndlovu urged hotels to embrace the World Tourism Day theme, which, this year, will be celebrated under Tourism for All-Promoting Universal Accessibility, to ensure that everyone received quality service.
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“We would like the tourism industry, in all their different roles, services and capacities, to recognise that people with disabilities have equal rights to tourism services, opportunities, independent travel, accessible facilities, trained staff, reliable information and inclusive marketing,” Ndlovu said.
