adminThis year’s theme is “Removing Barriers to Create an Inclusive Society”. However, the pronouncements and promises made on the day are hollow as most disabled people in the country feel excluded from the wider society.
As it stands, the scales are heavily tipped against disabled people as they face many challenges.
People living with disability said they are not fully supported by the Government. There are several barriers faced by people living with disabilities.
Due to this unfavourable state of affairs, most disabled people in the country are languishing in abject poverty as they lack even basics such as food and shelter.
Most disabled people in the country have as a result of their physical state not benefited or enjoyed the advantages of the country’s progressive Government policies since independence.
“The poor social and economic status of persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe has contributed to their segregation and exclusion when it comes to education, employment and general living conditions,” said Mr Obadiah Moyo the Interim President for the National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe (NCDPZ).
Most if not all higher learning institutions in the country are not able to accommodate people living with disabilities.
Facilities at most of the country’s institutions of higher learning are not tailored to meet the needs of people living with disabilities hence most are not able to get a decent education.
This perpetuates the circle of poverty as without a decent education most cannot prosper in life.
“The major challenges facing people with disabilities is failure to access buildings such as classrooms, churches, banks, toilets as well as sports and recreation facilities,” said Mr Moyo.
He said people living with disabilities were still living at the bottom of the economic ladder, despite policies adopted after independence by the Government that seek to promote the economic emancipation of the country’s previously marginalised black majority.
“One of the silent but biggest casualties of Zimbabwe’s lopsided distribution of wealth has been the disability sector. This is despite Government policy on economic empowerment for all.
“In the process disability, an essential component in the development of inclusive communities became the sole responsibility of poorly resourced disability institutions, struggling to raise money for the salaries of their staff,” he said.
Mr Moyo said the Government should put in place measures that will ease the hardships that people living with disabilities were facing.
“We appeal to the Government and society at large to remove all barriers that perpetuate the exclusion of persons with disabilities,” said Mr Moyo.
Zanu-PF politburo member Cde Joshua Malinga who is also disabled said Zimbabwe was lagging behind in terms of supporting people with disability.
He said at independence Government came up with policies meant to address challenges faced by people with disabilities but some of these policies are just on paper and nothing is happening on the ground.
Cde Malinga said other Sadc countries such as South Africa, Namibia and Zambia had made great strides in improving the welfare of people with disabilities.
He bemoaned lack of political will to support people living with disabilities.
“In rural areas most disabled children are not attending school because the environment and the infrastructure are not friendly. People who designed the schools did not have disabled people in mind,” said Cde Malinga.
“People with disabilities constitute about ten percent of Zimbabwe’s population so there is urgent need to ensure that this fraction of the population is serviced,” he said.
Cde Malinga said it will be difficult for the country to achieve the millennial development goals as long as the challenges facing people with disabilities are not addressed.
He said most people who are living in poverty are the disabled hence they should be supported if the country is to achieve the goals.
“Most politicians only think of people with disabilities when campaigning for votes and after winning they quickly forget about this fraction of the population.
“In the recent constitution outreach programme we were not given enough space. In other countries, South Africa, Ghana and Namibia the disabled were given space to contribute to the constitution,” said Cde Malinga.
Wise Mangena (15) who is disabled and resides at Emthunzini wethemba, an orphanage in Mzilikazi said he depends on his friends for assistance. He is attending Mzilikazi Primary School.
“People who I stay with assist me all the time. When I go to church everyone welcomes me. The problem is that both school and church buildings have no provisions for people with disabilities.
“When I go to the toilet I have to ask for help because the toilet was not designed for people with disabilities,” he said.
Mrs Janet Moyo (45), who is visually impaired, said she could not go to school because of her blindness.
She said she was as a result forced to resort to begging because she could not get employment given the fact that she did not go to school.
Political commentator, Dr Lawton Hikwa said the country had adequate laws to protect the interests of people with disabilities but some of them were not being enforced.
“We have the required legislation and policies but we are found wanting when it comes to enforcement,” said Dr Hikwa.
He said people living with disabilities should be integrated with able bodied people both at schools and institutions of higher learning.
Online Reporter