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2.3.1 Tanzania

Efforts to address the needs of persons with disabilities have a history in Tanzania. Since independence in 1961, Tanzania has been striving through different ways, to provide services to people with disabilities. It was not until 1975, when the ruling party (TANU) in its circular addressed to all Regional Commissioners directed that services to people with disabilities should be provided in their communities, except where persons with disabilities had no supportive relatives. Following, the socio-economic and political changes in 1981, the government recognized the importance and necessity of adopting special measures for persons with disabilities particularly in towns, for those who had no family or community on which they could depend on. A bulk of responsibility was vested with the department of Social Welfare.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (2008), the total population of Tanzania was estimated to be 40.6 million, up from 12.3 million and 34.5 million in 1967 and 2002 respectively. Up to 3.2 million Tanzanians (7.8%) of population aged 7 years and above have some form of activity limitation and up to 5.4 million (13.2%) are affected with one form of disability or another. The prevalence is higher in rural areas (8.3%) than in urban areas (6.35) and tends to increase with age. Disability prevalence in Tanzania mainland is higher (13.3%) than Zanzibar (9.3 %). Subsistence agriculture and self employment is the mainstay of people with disability. Up to 72.3 percent of households headed by persons with disabilities depend on income from subsistence agriculture and 14.5 percent depend on self employment compared to 65.0 percent and 21.3 respectively for those without. With this statistics, Persons with disabilities are likely not to benefit from the implementation of Common Market Protocol.

Other major challenges facing the group of people with disabilities are access to transport, information, and problems with attitudes of others at home, school and at work, inaccessibility to public services / premises, poverty and inadequate representation.

Legislation

  • The constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania
  • The Protocol of the UN Convention has been signed and ratified
  • The Disabled Persons Employment Act of 1982
  • In Zanzibar the Rights and Privileges Act No.9 of 2006
  • The Disabled Persons (Care and Maintenance) Act of 1982
  • Persons with Disabilities Act of 2010 which came in as a result of Tanzania signing and ratifying UNCRPD in 2006
  • The Government also gives official recognition to the Disabled Persons Organizations DPOs
  • The Government Notice No. 464 of 1995 Disabled (Employment) Regulations

Policies

  • National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction, 2010- 2015 (MKUKUTA II)
  • Zanzibar National Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy, 2010- 2015 (MKUZA II)
  • National Disability Policy of 2004 and the Cabinet Paper No. 19 of 1981
  • The Zanzibar Disability Development Policy of 2004
  • The Zanzibar Education Policy: Transition Towards Inclusive Education of 2006
  • National Disability Mainstreaming Strategy; 2010- 2015

Programmes

  • The National Steering Committee on the Africa Decade was established in 2008, to ensure that issues of PWDs and other groups are taken into consideration in the development process
  • The Government has reviewed cost sharing guidelines to ensure a positive environment for PWDs to access health services
  • The Mother to Child Health Programme is in place as an early intervention initiative for children with disabilities
  • The Local Government authorities have embarked on raising awareness and changing attitudes about albinos, using Social Welfare Officers in the regions and districts
  • Vocational Training and entrepreneurship skills are under taken to empower people of various categories of disabilities, to engage in productive life and access micro credit
  • The Social Welfare Institute in Tanzania trains social welfare Officers responsible for PWDs
  • There are programs on community based care which involve the provision of seed money for income generation; assistive devices and the resettlement of PWDs who are able and willing to be integrated in the community, are in place
  • There are 43 Rehabilitation Centers which offer Treatment and Care for PWDs in the country. These include the Lions Club and the Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania
  • Education Development Programme
  • The Zanzibar Disability Development Fund
  • Muslim Teachers’ Training College, inclusive Education Department
  • Inclusive Education Programme, Zanzibar
  • Special Needs Teachers’ Training College of Patandi, Arusha
  • There are Focal Points in every Ministry in Zanzibar for Coordination of PWDs issues

Challenges

  • Inadequate participation of the PWDs in planning and decision making processes
  • High rate of poverty among PWDs particularly in rural areas
  • Traditional practice of begging by some PWDs especially in urban areas
  • Poor implementation of the existing laws and policies regarding disability issues
  • Stigmatization and discrimination of PWDs
  • Lack of awareness on disabilities issues to parents, communities, law enforcement Agencies and decision makers
  • Inadequate capacity building of PWDs and staff working with PWDs
  • Inaccessible environment (poor infrastructure, buildings, transport)
  • Inadequate employment opportunities and education
  • Inadequate funds to coordinate disability issues
  • Lack of adequate data and information on disability issues
  • Stigma of PWDs both in rural and urban areas
  • Lack of access to information in appropriate format
  • High illiterate rate among PWDs

Recommendations

  • Government to provide sufficient funds and human resources for addressing disabilities issues
  • Self representation of PWDs in disabilities issues at all levels including those of decision making processes
  • Enhance awareness campaigns on PWDs to the communities, Families, care givers, Professionals, leaders including decision makers
  • Advocate for inclusive society
  • There is need for a coordination mechanism for the implementation of policies and legislation. This will help in the institutionalization and the mainstreaming of disability concerns
  • The Government should conduct disability surveys for evidence based planning
  • Identify issues of disability and mainstream them in policies and projects of EAC

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