Disability rights defenders have called upon government to consider reviewing regulations guiding operations of the Disability Trust Fund (DTF), set to be officially inaugurated next week.
Among others, the grouping wants government to commit a stipulated amount of money in percentage terms under the national budget, to be allocated to the fund consistently.
Speaking in Lilongwe at a round table discussion on explicit inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in the fund’s regulations, Director for Disability Independent Living Centre, Julian Mabangwe, said this would ensure that the fund makes a meaningful impact on the lives of persons with disabilities across the country.
“We want to try, as much as possible, to give our views and propose a certain percentage that we will present to government for consideration,” said Mabangwe.
Desk officer for DTF in the Ministry of Gender Community Development and Social Welfare under the Department of Disability and Elderly Affairs, Mayeso Malembo, acknowledged fluctuations in the allocation of the funds and hopes this will be addressed when the fund gets more financiers once its popularized.
The DTF was instituted in 2020 as per the Disability Act of 2012 with the aim of creating a funding opportunity for the implementation of interventions to improve lives of people with disabilities.
Reported by Doreen Sonani
