‘Change attitude, embrace people living with disability’

RELIGIOUS institutions should lead by example, influence attitude change and prioritise disability inclusion by ensuring church programmes and activities accommodate people living with disabilities.

The call was made during the Entumbane Seventh-day Adventist Church district disability awareness day on Saturday.

Before the service, the church hosted a week-long training on sign language, which was facilitated by sign language experts from Alaso Academy from Harare.

During the special service, which was attended by civic and community leader’s 146 people living with disabilities were presented with special grocery hampers.

In his speech, the guest of honour, Pastor Moses Nceku Msimanga, said there was a need for attitude change in embracing people living with disabilities (PLDs) in the church.

“We must avoid discriminating against people living with disability. Let us welcome them in the church because Jesus loves them as well,” he said.

“Salvation is not only for the able-bodied but for all people, which include those living with disability.”

Ps Msimanga said when they come to church, people living with disability should be allowed to participate in all the programmes including leading the services.

Entumbane district pastor, Dr Yamukelani Ngwenya, said people living disability are still marginalised in the community but the church should be at the forefront in embracing them.

“We realised that many times as a community we tend to undermine and marginalise them but we need to ensure that they have a sense of belonging. It was a way of creating awareness to the community to embrace inclusivity. Vulnerable groups must be part of the community,” he said.

Dr Ngwenya said the church must model the love of Jesus, who cares for everyone including those PLDs.

He said the sign language training, which was attended by 167 people was to ensure that church members and the community are able to communicate with the deaf community.

Ward 10 councillor, Khalazani Ndlovu, hailed the gesture by the SDA church saying it was important for the church to lead in caring for the disadvantaged. “The church approached me and requested for the names of people living with disabilities, which I did. I am glad that they also trained both community and church members in sign language, it speaks to leaving no one behind, which addresses challenges facing people with people living with disabilities,” she said.

Mr Sipho Humprey Sibanda, who led the team that conducted the sign language training said religious bodies have strong influence in community, which makes it is easy for them to take a lead in embracing people living with disabilities.

Mr Sibanda said there has been a position shift in terms of how people living with disabilities are treated.

“When religious bodies embrace inclusivity, sign language and people living with disabilities, it becomes easy for the community to follow. There has been a shift, which was prevalent long back, when disability was associated with poverty and backwardness,” he said.

Mr Sibanda said the country is making strides in accommodating people living with disabilities.

He said provision of education to people living with disabilities will be a great empowerment tool for them.— @themkhust.