LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Vice President Jane Ansah has delivered a decisive call for practical progress on disability inclusion as she inaugurated the 2025 MACODA Flag Week in Lilongwe.

Rather than treating the ceremony as a routine annual tradition, she positioned it as a moment for renewed commitment and clearer accountability across all sectors.

Dr Ansah emphasised that this year’s theme—advancing disability rights through both reporting and action—must serve as a direct challenge to policymakers and institutions to abandon symbolic gestures and pursue tangible outcomes.

She made it clear that Malawi cannot afford an approach that prioritises statements over results if it aspires to build a genuinely inclusive society.

At the heart of her message was the conviction that national development must benefit every citizen, regardless of disability, gender, or background.

She stressed that this vision should be reflected consistently in both policy formulation and programme implementation.

Reflecting on the recent enactment of the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2024 and the adoption of the National Disability Policy, the Vice President noted that such milestones offer a strong policy framework.

However, she warned that these achievements will remain largely symbolic unless they are enforced with diligence and seriousness.

She urged duty bearers to ensure that the legislation translates into meaningful improvements in the daily lives of persons with disabilities.

Dr Ansah directed local councils to outline precisely how they will integrate disability considerations into the utilisation of public resources.

She pointed particularly to funds such as the Constituency Development Fund and economic empowerment allocations, insisting that persons with disabilities must be deliberately included in these financial interventions.

She argued that disability inclusion should never be left to chance but must be a planned and central element of development initiatives.

The Vice President also underscored the importance of supporting learners with disabilities through the free secondary education programme.

She reiterated that economic hardship must not be allowed to block educational opportunities for disabled pupils.

Turning to agriculture, she highlighted that the reintroduced FISP remains vital for vulnerable households, including those with disabilities.

She urged agricultural and district authorities to ensure that disabled farmers are prioritised and not overlooked when distributing subsidised inputs.

Looking ahead, Dr Ansah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to embedding disability rights within the broader Malawi 2063 vision.

She noted that disability inclusion forms a fundamental part of the country’s long-term development aspirations and must remain central in national planning.

She acknowledged the operational and financial challenges faced by MACODA and appealed to the Ministries of Finance and Trade to support viable initiatives such as the Bangwe Weaving Factory.

To ensure the factory’s sustainability, she encouraged government institutions to procure textiles from the facility, thereby strengthening economic opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Dr Ansah also stressed that accessible infrastructure is essential for real inclusion, noting that progressive policies mean little if public spaces remain physically restrictive.

She called upon construction and transport authorities to make accessibility a standard requirement rather than an optional feature.

In closing, the Vice President thanked participants for their commitment before officially launching the 2025 MACODA Flag Week.

Her address not only outlined clear expectations for disability inclusion but also set a tone of urgency, responsibility, and long-term commitment.

Through her remarks, she positioned disability rights as a vital component of Malawi’s social and economic advancement.

The Maravi Post