Perhaps the true test of digital transformation is not in the speed of connectivity or AI adoption but in who is left behind.
While Africa’s tech future is undeniably bright, the rapid digital transformation sweeping across the continent appears not built with and for everyone, risking entrenching old inequalities in new digital forms, as FRANK KISAKYE writes.
From mobile internet expansion to experiments with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) remain largely excluded from the digital revolution due to inaccessible technologies and weak enforcement of inclusive ICT policies.
A June 2025 report by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) paints a gloomy future. While numerous African countries have enacted disability rights laws and ICT frameworks, actual implementation remains slow, fragmented, and underfunded.
“Technology has enormous potential to empower Persons with Disabilities, but without accessibility, that potential becomes a source of further exclusion,” notes CIPESA in its regional study.
From Rwanda to Zimbabwe, the findings reveal a recurring pattern: progressive policy commitments at the national level are often undermined by poor coordination, lack of implementing decrees, absence of inclusive design, and minimal enforcement mechanisms.
Rwanda: laws with vision, gaps in execution
In Rwanda, the constitution and post-genocide development agenda have embraced disability rights.
The government ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2008 and later introduced a National Policy on Persons with Disabilities. Yet, ICT access remains elusive for many PWDs.
The absence of monitoring mechanisms for enforcing digital accessibility, and the limited availability of assistive technology means that much of Rwanda’s impressive digital infrastructure still leaves some citizens behind.
“The laws are in place, but PWDs still face difficulty accessing digital services,” reads part of the report.
Citizens can report violations to the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, but enforcement lags far behind promises.
Senegal: great strategy, poor delivery
Senegal’s Digital Senegal 2025 Strategy includes a dedicated ICT & Disability component, aiming to deliver affordable and accessible digital services.
The legal backbone is the Loi d’orientation sociale n° 2010-15, which aligns with the CRPD. However, out of 14 implementing decrees, only two have been signed, leaving most of the law inert.
Senegal’s failure to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty, which facilitates access to knowledge for the visually impaired, further weakens protections. Aggrieved parties can seek redress through ordinary courts, but without specific ICT accessibility measures, the impact is negligible.
South Africa: strong legal framework, yet challenges persist
South Africa boasts one of the most comprehensive legal landscapes for disability inclusion in Africa.
Its Promotion of Equality Act, Electronic Communications Act, and White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities all champion inclusive digital access. Even so, challenges remain.
South Africa has not ratified the Marrakesh Treaty, and enforcement of ICT-specific provisions is inconsistent. A landmark ruling by the Constitutional court in Blind SA v Minister of Trade led to copyright exceptions, allowing blind citizens access to published works.
Yet, barriers such as resource constraints, fragmented data, and limited participation by PWDs persist.
Zambia: good Laws, weak implementation
In Zambia, the Persons with Disabilities Act (2012) and the ICT Act (2009) offer a legal basis for digital inclusion. Regulatory guidelines by ZICTA, the communications authority, direct service providers to consider accessibility.
However, the absence of timelines and enforcement mechanisms, and a lack of domestication of the Marrakesh Treaty, means that many of these protections remain aspirational.
Zambia’s Disability Policy 2030 promises universal digital access, but without concrete implementation plans, the goal remains distant.
Zimbabwe: bold policy, no legal teeth
Zimbabwe’s 2021 National Disability Policy aspires to achieve full digital accessibility by 2030. The constitution guarantees a range of rights for PWDs, but implementation is hampered by the fact that the disability policy is not legally binding.
While Zimbabwe has signed both the CRPD and Marrakesh Treaty, domestic legislation to enforce their provisions is missing. Budget allocations exist in theory, but execution remains inconsistent.
Cameroon: a patchwork of decrees
Cameroon’s framework includes Law No. 2010/002 on disability rights and Decree No. 2021/250 ratifying the Marrakesh Treaty.
However, there is no national ICT accessibility law. While several ministerial decrees aim to promote inclusivity, gaps persist in copyright access and in adapting laws into accessible formats.
Encouragingly, violations can result in criminal penalties, but citizen awareness and legal literacy remain low.
Ghana: general rights, no ICT specificity
Ghana’s Persons with Disability Act (2006) recognises the rights of PWDs, but lacks explicit ICT provisions. Other ICT-related acts such as the Electronic Communications Act (2008) and Electronic Transactions Act (2008) imply accessibility duties for service providers, but interpretation and enforcement are limited.
Rights violations may be prosecuted civilly or criminally, though remedies are not always clear-cut.
Nigeria: legal recognition and implementation gaps
Nigeria stands out for its Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act (2018), which mandates accessible formats and supports assistive technologies.
The Copyright Act (2022) also aligns with the Marrakesh Treaty. However, like other countries, implementation is sluggish. While Lagos State has progressive policies, national laws still lack comprehensive responsibilities for both public and private actors.
A call for inclusive design
Across all countries studied, a common theme emerges: good intentions and progressive language are not enough.
Without concrete, time-bound implementation plans, accessible technology procurement, and monitoring systems, the digital divide for PWDs will continue to widen. CIPESA calls on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to establish a special mandate dedicated to enforcing disability rights in the digital age.
The Protocol on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities under the African Charter has created a legal basis, but a regional enforcement mechanism remains missing.
