Moses Marufu, a disability rights advocate from Mashonaland West, has raised concerns over the newly Gazetted Mines and Minerals Bill, noting that it lacks explicit provisions for people with disabilities (PWDs) in the mining sector.
Speaking to Great Dyke News` Obert Sithole, Marufu acknowledged the bill’s focus on local participation and indigenization, which could benefit PWDs if implemented inclusively. However, he expressed skepticism, citing past failures to include marginalized groups meaningfully.
He pointed out that reserved mining blocks for citizens could present opportunities for PWDs, but only if the bill is refined to specifically address their needs. Marufu urged lawmakers to include disability-specific provisions and ensure stakeholder input to prevent PWDs from being left behind.
