First Lady rallies support for disabled

Harare Bureau
FIRST Lady Amai Grace Mugabe has commended people caring for children with disabilities, saying such support was crucial to integrating them into society.

She was addressing athletes and invited guests at the 27th edition of the Danhiko Annual Paralympic Games yesterday at Danhiko Project in Harare. Amai Mugabe is Patron of Danhiko Project.

“My experience over time has shaped my overall understanding of the Paralympic Games. After witnessing the physically challenged breaking certain barriers in sport, we have concluded that the only hindrance to fulfilling one’s potential is the psychological attitude of the individual,” she said.

“I would like to attribute the growing success of the games to society’s shift in attitude to children with disabilities. During competition in the games, we have witnessed participants without limbs successfully swimming and even going to win the race. What a spectacle to watch, a feat which some able-bodied people cannot achieve.”

She urged society to “accept and embrace our children in whatever condition they are”.

“We cannot choose what God should give us. Inga muimbi (James Chimombe) akaimba wani achiti ‘chandapiwa nashe handirambe, ndinogamuchira’. I therefore commend the Association of Parents of Handicapped Children for the wonderful work they are doing, supporting each other in looking after their children with disabilities.”

Amai Mugabe said it was encouraging to note parents were developing a positive attitude and no longer regarded themselves as cursed when they had children with disabilities. She said there were plans to purchase land near Danhiko Project to build state-of-the-art sports facilities for handicapped children.

“With a multipurpose sports pavilion we will be able to adequately prepare for big events such as continental and Olympic games.”

Amai Mugabe said preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games were underway after the National Paralympic Commitee of Japan invited Zimbabwe to participate. She said the Japanese had sent a team of coaches to train local athletes in wheelchair basketball and tennis ahead of the games. Amai Mugabe thanked sponsors of the Danhiko Games for coming through despite national economic challenges. The games, which end today, have total prize money of US$12 500. Cabinet ministers and other senior Government officials watched athletes from across the country participate yesterday.