Back to Index

"Mr President we are Zimbabweans too" - Congratulations Elliot
National Asociation of Scieties for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH)
Extracted from The Disability Update
October 04, 2004

21 YEAR OLD SWIMMER Doramitzi Gonzalez an amputee won three medals at the Athens Paralympics games and when she was on the phone with the Mexican President Vincente Fox she had the courage to say after accepting his congratulations, ‘Mr. President do not forget we are Mexicans too". People with disabilities constantly face this challenge in their everyday lives, Doramitzi had to remind his President. As the President handed over the Presidential gift to Elliot last Saturday, Elliot he did not need to say these words because the head of state aptly stated that more recognition and opportunities would be created to people with disabilities. We hope Mr. President you will ensure that disability issues are given priority in all government’s policies and programmes.

Three years ago, Elliot Mujaji won three medals in Sydney, it was beautiful to see him wave the national flag and we did not join him in celebrating his joy. This year he has done it again amid all constraints; he defied all odds and won gold breaking his personal record of 11.13 seconds to come up with an impressive 11 seconds. Consistency is what winners and successful people are made of, congratulations Elliot, makorokoto, amhlope! You have become a showcased the capabilities of people living with disabilities.

We hope the times will be changing for the better for people living with disabilities so that their visible disabilities are not the focus and the focus will be the capabilities, which lie within them. Lets us start thinking about those amongst us who are living with disabilities, lets start creating opportunities for them and provide the necessary environment which will enable these people to make their contribution to society and to give them the dignity to become themselves. Let’s work together with them and help more people in our society to understand the value of respecting our differences and embracing our common humanity. The words of Milton Kamwendo a motivational speaker remains true to this cause he who invests in growing other people will be successful for a lifetime.

Visit the NASCOH fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP