‘Disabled people have a right to be heard’

Herald Reporter
People with disabilities should be vocal and fight for their rights in all spheres of life, Zanu-PF secretary for the disabled and the disadvantaged Cde Joshua Malinga has said. He urged politicians to accommodate people with disabilities in leadership positions saying their rights should be made statutory. Cde Malinga, who is on a countrywide tour mobilising people with disabilities ahead of 2018 elections, said this at Garamwera Business Centre in Buhera on Friday, where he addressed scores of people with disabilities.

He said people with disabilities were citizens without rights.

“Disabled people must be visible, vocal and fight for their rights. You will not get anything if you remain quiet,” said Cde Malinga.

“There should be a strong legislation that makes the rights of the disabled statutory. Disabled people are citizens without rights. The current legislation called the Disabled Persons Act has been overtaken by events.

“It is no longer a strong piece of legislation. There is a United Nations instrument called the Convention on the Rights of the Disabled People which is a treaty between the disabled people and their governments.”

Cde Malinga said although President Mugabe had signed the UN instrument, it was yet to be ratified and domesticated in Zimbabwe.

He said people with disabilities constituted 15 percent of every population and politicians needed to be reminded that such people vote during election time.

As such, Cde Malinga said facilities such as wheelchairs and clutches should be given to them for free.

He said illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West were inhibiting Government to fully assist the disabled.

Said Cde Malinga: “When people talk of development we are not involved. People do not think we are human beings like other people. Our issues as disabled people should be mainstreamed and always think of us when you are doing development or when you are constructing a building.

“Our problem is not the condition which I am. Disability is not my condition. Disability is in the mind of the able-bodied who construct a building with stairs that I cannot negotiate.

“There are some people who only need opportunities and nothing else,” he said.