adminOswell Moyo Chronicle Reporter
PEOPLE living with disabilities have urged the government to create a ministry to specifically deal with their issues, saying the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare was failing to address their plight.National Disability Board chairperson Chrispen Manyuke made the call yesterday during the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is commemorated on December 3 annually.
He told The Chronicle the organisation wanted to have their own ministry which would articulate disability issues effectively.
“It’s high time disabled people have their own ministry which will be headed by people who understand our needs. The social welfare department is failing to come up with developmental programmes aimed at addressing our plight because of pressure that they face in dealing with numerous disadvantaged groups,” he said.
Manyuke added that people living with disabilities want to be empowered with livelihood skills such as wood work, motor mechanics and painting rather than being treated like charity cases surviving from handouts.
“People should stop perceiving us as charity objects. Let government create a ministry that will be responsible for our affairs. For example, they created Women’s Affairs which deals with issues affecting women, so what can stop them from creating ours as well?” he asked.
Richard Nyathi, chairperson of Federation of Organisation of People with Disabilities in Zimbabwe, appealed to government to create educational structures that catered for people with disabilities.
“Most tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe don’t have facilities for people living with disabilities. Lecturers conduct lessons using projectors and laptops failing to take note of visually impaired pupils. Buildings don’t have escalators for those that are on wheel chairs hence we end up shunning education,” said Nyathi.
The theme for this year was: “Sustainable Development, The promise of Technology.”
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
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