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Fungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau
Youths living with disabilities in Shamva district. Mashonaland Central have called for the criminalisation of failure to acquire birth certificates for children with disabilities by their parents or caregivers.
This comes after it emerged that a huge number of people with disabilities, young or old in Shamva are complacent in acquiring documentation for themselves or their children even if civil registry is closer to their doorstep. Speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Shamva, Mr Cleopas Chikove, a child care worker, said rights of people with disabilities start with having a birth certificate.
“Failure to acquire a birth certificate means that all other rights of people with disabilities cannot be met and fulfilled. The right to education, justice and health are difficult without a birth certificate and this burdens the Government,” he said.
“A birth certificate gives an identical an identity making it easier to access social services. Create a by-law which makes it an offence to live without a birth certificate or failure to register one’s child.”
Shamva civil registry official Mrs Mbendela Tambudzai said they have sub offices at Chakonda and Madziwa townships to bring the civil registry closer to the people.
“We also carry out mobile registration but parents are failing to register their children, especially the physically challenged. We have a huge percent of children with disabilities who don’t have birth certificates,” she said.
“School headmasters appealed to have civil registration in schools for this group but this required approval from the Government. Recently we were engaged by SOS to register people in Chidembo village, Mushowani in Madziwa but a few people with disabilities turned up.
“Chief Bushu has been very helpful in carrying people with disabilities to our offices.”
One of the youths with disability Judnot Ngwerume thanked DAPP and Leonard Cheshire for teaching them their rights and raising awareness in communities which saw an increase in the acceptance of people with disabilities.
He said some of them managed to marry which is a huge achievement considering that people with disabilities were looked down upon for a long time.
“A large number of us managed to enrol at Ponesai Vanhu Technical School for technical skills development. Some are running their businesses while others are employed by the local authority,” he said.
“Infrastructure in the district is improving to accommodate people with disabilities. Wadzanai Primary and Secondary Schools have constructed wheelchair friendly toilets.
“Now that the DAPP and Leonard Cheshire project is coming to an end we are appealing to duty bearers in Shamva to welcome us to their offices and listen to our challenges.”
As a three programme by the Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) and Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe (LCDZ) comes to an end in December this year Project officer Mrs Esnath Guranayi said they are strengthening the relationship between Government departments and youths with disabilities.
The programme was funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented in three districts — Bindura, Shamva and Rushinga
“We are strengthening the relationship between duty bearers and youths with disabilities so that we leave them in safe and capable hands as the programme ends this December,” she said.
“Our mandate was to teach these youths about their rights and raise awareness in communities concerning those rights. However, this process has created gaps that need to be attended to so that our youths enjoy their rights.
“We are happy that they are getting support from the Government down to ward level. One of our persons with disabilities organisation in Chimhanda won an award in Gweru which was handed to them by President Mnangangwa.”
Online Reporter