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ZIMNAD commemorates Deaf Awareness Week
National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH)
Extracted from Disability Update 09, October
October 10, 2006

The issue of human rights once again came under the spotlight as members of the Zimbabwe National Association for the Deaf (ZIMNAD) commemorated the Deaf Awareness Week from 25 to 30 September 2006 under the theme ‘Our Rights, Our Future’.

The awareness week focused on the need to address crucial issues that continue to contribute to the marginalisation of people with hearing impairments in Zimbabwe. The issues included the need for society to recognise and accept sign language as the language of the deaf community; the avoidance of the use of abusive language like ‘dump’ or ‘chimumumu’ (mute); provision of sign language translation for all news bulletins and in the dissemination of information on HIV and AIDS programmes; the recognition and enhancement of sign language as the medium of communication at schools and colleges that cater for the deaf, at social gatherings and in the judiciary system; and provision of interpreter services to enhance meaningful learning.

The highlight of the campaign was when the members marched from Mbare to town house where they were addressed by the Harare Commission Chairperson, Mrs Sekesayi Makwavarara, who expressed her willingness to sit down and discuss with the leadership how the city council could play an active role in improving the welfare of people with hearing impairments. She also expressed her intention to take time to visit some of the schools and projects run by people with hearing impairments so that the city could come up with ways of complementing their activities.

The placards displayed by the members who took part in the march attest to the alienation of the deaf from mainstream activities in society and the need for inclusion. Some of the placards read:

• Let’s live together as one family. Without supporting us, we will not develop.
• Zimbabwe for us all. Let’s eat from the same plate, ride on the same wagon.
• Avail to us mobile phones for easy communication without interference.
• The deaf have the right to work. Give us a chance to reflect our talents.
• The deaf have a right to sport.
• Sign language should be the medium of instruction for the deaf.
• Accommodation is a cause of concern.
• Access to Information – translation of all news sessions on television.
• Interpreters should be seconded to colleges and schools by government.

Clearly, the language of the deaf community, just like the language of the rest of people with disabilities, is the language of exclusion, an exclusion resulting from the stigmatisation and discrimination from society. The onus is on society to ensure the inclusion of the deaf in developmental activities. This inclusion can only begin by heeding the concerns of people with disabilities.

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