Harare — INISTER of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare, Cde Nicholas Goche said the Government will continue providing vocational training to equip disabled persons with necessary skills that enables them to secure decent employment in any sector.

This year's theme to commemorate the International Day of the Disabled is "Decent work for persons with disabilities" and seeks equalisation of opportunities in the employment sector for people with disabilities.

In a speech read on his behalf by the social services deputy director in the ministry, Mr Togarepi Chinake last week, Cde Goche said comprehensive efforts by Government, non-governmental organisations and the society were needed to provide decent employment for disabled persons.

"Disabled persons are often employed in low paid jobs like basket weaving or are a common sight as beggars on the street. This offers little, if any social, and legal security and often segregates them from main stream, market labour.

"I therefore urge all interested parties to come up with programmes geared towards rescuing the disabled persons from dependency by enabling them to become self sufficient," he said.

The minister said the Government had shown its commitment in providing funds to the disabled person's funds and this year alone a total of $7 billion was allocated to the fund with 49 projects being approved and spread across all sectors.