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Kudzai Chikiwa, Chronicle Reporter
THE Advisor to the President on Disability Issues, Cde Joshua Malinga, has said people with disabilities should not lag behind in accessing ICTs since all sectors of the economy harness the power of ICTs for the development of the nation.
Speaking at the handover of 14 computers donated to the Bulawayo Public Library Braille Department by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), Cde Malinga said people with disabilities should take advantage of computers to improve their computer literacy.
“Now that technology has been disposed in front of us, it’s high time we embrace this initiative. I challenge people with disabilities to be active and grasp these new concepts. Disability is just a social construct that we can erase if we develop positive attitudes towards development. One of the statements I don’t forget is that ‘we are our own liberators,” he said.
Cde Malinga, who is also the National Secretary for the Welfare of the Disabled and the Disadvantaged in the Zanu-PF Politburo, said society should embrace a principle called ‘universal design’ so that when people make plans they do so with everybody in mind.
“One of the messages I want people with disabilities and the able bodied to carry forward is that people with disabilities are an important constituency with huge numbers. We have to understand that disability is not a condition of one’s body, the condition of the body is just impairment. Disability is how people with disabilities are treated by society. In most cases, they are excluded from social systems, they are not empowered, children are not sent to school and many do not benefit from social services,” he said.
The Bulawayo Public Library Braille Department Co-ordinator, Mr Killion Dube, commended Government for its thrust in making ICTs accessible to people living with disabilities.
Mr Dube said the computers are going to be mainly used for outreaches whereby they will tour communities and teach ordinary people living with disabilities some basic skills on how to use computers.
He said those who come by the library will continue using desktops which were donated by Fortwell.
“It is our pleasure and honour to be remembered as Bulawayo and the region at large. We appreciate the Government’s efforts to develop people with disabilities as they sent the President’s Advisor to hand over the computers to us. We thank POTRAZ and other partners for their unwavering support. As we go for outreaches with these computers, people’s computer literacy rates are going to improve,” he said.
Mr Dube said they are going to install special software programmes (screen readers) to assist visually impaired learners in using the computers.
— @tamary98
Online Reporter