Ratify Disability Treaty Now
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 — (March 6, 2026) — Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in Zambia are demanding urgent action from government to ratify the now, saying completing the process before the end of the first quarter of 2026 will strengthen rights and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
Mutamba said the is Africa’s own human rights instrument that addresses the realities faced by persons with disabilities on the continent.
He said the protocol tackles challenges such as stigma, harmful practices and barriers in education, health services, employment, justice and political participation.
Mutamba explained that the protocol complements the by addressing issues that are specific to the African context.
He said the protocol entered into force in 2024 after at least 15 African countries ratified it.
Mutamba listed countries that have already ratified the protocol as Angola, Burundi, Kenya, Mali, Rwanda, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Mutamba said Zambia has neither signed nor ratified the protocol, which means the country has not yet committed itself to implementing its provisions.
He explained that signing the protocol would only show support for its provisions, while ratification would make Zambia legally bound to implement it.
Mutamba said ratifying the protocol would strengthen legal protection against discrimination and harmful practices affecting persons with disabilities.
He said ratification would also align Zambia with continental human rights standards and strengthen accountability.
Mutamba added that ratification would accelerate the inclusion of persons with disabilities in schools, workplaces, health services, the justice system and civic life.
He further said ratification would demonstrate Zambia’s leadership in promoting human rights and disability inclusion in Africa.
Mutamba said for more than five years, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities have been engaging government through consultations and advocacy efforts calling for the ratification of the protocol.
He acknowledged that government had previously indicated its commitment to complete ratification in the first quarter of 2026.
Mutamba said this commitment was referenced during parliamentary discussions, including a Private Member’s Motion raised on July 25, 2025, where the National Assembly considered issues surrounding the domestication of the protocol.
However, Mutamba said progress toward depositing the ratification instruments with the has not yet been evident.
He warned that every month of delay continues to prolong the barriers faced by persons with disabilities in Zambia.
Mutamba said behind the policy discussions are real people whose lives are affected by these barriers.
He cited examples of children who remain out of school because accessibility was not considered, qualified graduates who fail to find employment and voters who struggle to participate in elections because of physical barriers.
Mutamba said ratification would make it everyone’s responsibility to remove such barriers.
He urged authorities responsible for social services, justice, executive coordination and the legislature to complete the ratification process before the end of the first quarter of 2026 as previously committed.
Mutamba said government should finalise the necessary documentation, secure approvals and deposit the instruments with the without further delay.
He stressed that the demand for ratification is not about charity but about justice, development and Zambia fulfilling its commitments.
Mutamba said the advocacy campaign is being implemented under the Realisation of the African Disability Protocol (RAD-P) project.
He said the project is implemented in partnership with regional and international organisations working to advance disability rights.
Mutamba added that the initiative is co-funded by development partners and supported by several organisations committed to strengthening disability rights and inclusion in Zambia.
Meanwhile, disability groups also welcomed proposals previously contained in Bill No. 7, which included a provision for five reserved parliamentary seats for persons with disabilities under a mixed-member electoral system.
Ian Banda, Chairperson for the Youths in Action for Disabilities in Africa said the proposal represents an important step toward ensuring political representation for persons with disabilities, a matter they have been pushing for since 2021.
Banda disclosed that recent consultations with the Parliamentary Caucus on Social Inclusion and officials from the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services indicated that the process is currently awaiting authorisation from the Office of the Attorney General before it can proceed to Cabinet and eventually return to Parliament.
“We are hopeful that government will honour its commitment to complete the process before the end of the first quarter of 2026,” the advocates said.
She noted that sunscreen is often only available at higher-level hospitals, forcing many people in rural areas to travel long distances to access the product.
In some cases, patients are given only small quantities of sunscreen that do not last long, while others face difficulties accessing treatment for skin cancer due to delays in diagnosis and specialist care.
She called for the decentralisation of sunscreen distribution so that it becomes available even at primary healthcare centres in rural communities.
She also encouraged communities to consider natural alternatives such as aloe vera as a supplementary form of skin protection.
She said ratifying the African Disability Protocol would strengthen Zambia’s efforts to combat discrimination, harmful cultural practices and violence against persons with disabilities and persons with albinism.
“This is not charity,” one of the advocates said. “It is about justice and ensuring that Zambia keeps its commitment to equality and inclusion.”
She reiterated their call for government to deposit the ratification instruments with the African Union without further delay, saying the move would demonstrate Zambia’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
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