Youths with Disabilities threaten to stage protest against “discriminatory laws”

The Zambia Alliance for Youths with Disabilities has threatened to stage a protest if the government does not address what it has termed as discriminatory laws pertaining to the issuance of driver’s licenses to hearing impaired persons.

Alliance General Secretary, Frankson Musukwa says Zambia is the only country in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region that does not allow people with hearing impairment to acquire driver’s licenses.

He has told QTV News that the current Road Transport and Safety Agency Act is an infringement on the rights of the deaf people, hence the need to amend it.

Mr. Musukwa who spoke through an interpreter Chola Kaoma reveals that despite engaging the authorities so that the issue is addressed, nothing tangible has been done.

But Ministry of Transport and Communications Permanent Secretary Misheck Lungu says the ministry is aware of the challenges people with hearing impairment are facing and is making effort to address their concerns.