Zanzibar allocates 970m/- to support PLWDs

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR has allocated 970m/- in a period of three years to fund needs of people with disabilities, the House of Representatives was informed here yesterday.

Minister of State, First Vice-President’s Office, Harusi Said Suleiman told the House that the government allocated 200m/-, 280m/- and 490m/- for people with disabilities in the 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years, respectively.

The minister was answering a question by Special Seats Representative Mwantatu Mbarak Khamis who sought to know the government strategies to provide people with disabilities with assistive devices to facilitate their movements and operations.

Minister Harusi concurred with the questioner that aid tools are a critical demand of people with disabilities if they have to participate in various social, educational and economic activities in the society.

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She further elaborated that the government works closely with various institutions and stakeholders to support the needy, noting that between 2023 and 2024, stakeholders donated a total of 1,277 aid tools valued at 443m/- to people with disabilities in Unguja and Pemba