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NASCOH holds sectoral workshop for visually impaired
National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH)
July 16, 2007

In order to fully gear itself to the unique challenges of each disability category and enhance the capacity of its membership to advocate for themselves, the National Association of Societies (NASCOH), recently held a sectoral workshop for people with visual impairments in Masvingo, that saw people with visual impairments from all walks of life sharing their experiences and charting the way forward with unity of purpose.

Following the success of this workshop, a number of sectoral workshops have also been lined up, separately targeting the physically impaired, the hearing impaired, the mentally challenged, and those with conditions in order to afford them the opportunity to articulate their concerns and devise sector specific interventions in an uninhibited and conducive atmosphere.

The workshop, which was highly interactive and participatory, was underpinned by the following objectives: to unearth problems faced by the visually impaired in all aspects of their daily lives, for use as an advocacy tool; to identify factors that inhibit the economic empowerment of people with visual impairments and recommend appropriate changes and or interventions; to evaluate NASCOH's role in strengthening organisations for and of people with visual impairments; and to generate social and economic intervention strategies aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of people with visual impairments including children.

The workshop covered a number of topics related to visual impairment including, a general overview of the challenges faced by visually impaired people in Zimbabwe; an update of the successes scored so far in promoting and protecting the rights of people with visual impairments; problems faced by visually impaired professionals in Zimbabwe; challenges faced by girls and women with visual impairments in Zimbabwe; what should be done to promote and protect the rights of children with visual impairments - a mother's perspective; a critique of Zimbabwe's labour laws with respect to the ;promotion and protection of the rights of the visually impaired in accessing employment and at the workplace; taking stock of the disability fund in poverty alleviation of the visually impaired and the possible way forward; causes of begging among the visually impaired in Zimbabwe; and an evaluation of NASCOH's role in strengthening the capacity of organisations for and of visual impairment.

Officially opening the workshop, the Chairperson of the National Disability Board, Mrs Rosewitta Mudarikwa, urged people with visual impairments to come up with a forum which would enable them to be consulted and allow them to articulate issues of visual impairment with clarity, focus and compassion: "You have a role to play. Make sure you leave behind a legacy of independence. Make sure that those who come after us will salute us.' She also underscored the fact that visual impairment was not a curse but was a form of identity. Although the impairment came with limitations and barriers, these limitations could be overcome and the barriers reduced.

Giving an overview of the challenges faced by visually impaired people in Zimbabwe, NASCOH's advocacy and research office, Mr Tsarayi Mungoni underscored the fact that people with disabilities were operating in an environment characterised by vicious competition, with a lot of issues competing for national attention. This had ushered in new challenges, with social expenditure being relegated to the fringes by government, employment was at an all-time high, while the doors of the private sector remained firmly bolted and locked against people with visual impairments.

The resultant segregation and marginalisation had resulted in a proliferation of begging among people with visual impairments, as underscored by the Great Trek to South Africa, which has seen a number of visually impaired people, including professionals, taking begging to new heights. Marginalisation of the group was also rife in political life.

The absence of a Member of Parliament with visual impairment had exacerbated the situation as the physically challenged Member of Parliament present could not be expected to effectively articulate disability concerns on his own. As a result of this, the voice of people with visual impairments was inaudible.

There was thus a need to fight this social exclusion and come up with practical measures that should be urgently put in place in order to dismantle the barriers that society has erected against people with visual impairments.

The workshop came up with a number of wide ranging recommendations for alleviating the problems of people with visual impairments in all societal activities. Chief among these was that the National Disability Board and NASCOH act expediently towards the formulation of a National Disability Policy and that a task force be formed for this purpose.

Other recommendations included, the introduction of a quota system on employment of people with visual impairments to reduce employment and begging; the inception of a job placement system to ensure equity in availing job opportunities to people with visual impairments; the provision of personal assistants to people with visual impairments by government; the allocation of loans by government for the maintenance of assistance devices; government to consider employment of visually impaired focal persons; engendering of people with visual impairments; government to play a leading role in the education of people with visual impairments from primary to secondary education; teaching to be availed in disability friendly formats; the Zimbabwe Constitution to be amended to include visually impaired; Disability Fund to stand alone; and that a directorate and secretariat be established for the National Disability Board, whose activities are curtailed by the absence of such a structure.

Also highlighted was the need for establishment of schools and resource centres for visually impaired; non taxation of visually impaired professionals; ensuring fair treatment of people with visual impairments at work; formation of visually impaired organisations of women; the need for NASCOH to institute awareness campaigns for abused children; adjustment of disability assistance fund to levels commensurate with a reasonable standard of living and the prevailing inflationary circumstances; the harmonisation and codification of bye laws so that they are responsive to disability needs; amendment of the Zimbabwe Constitution to ensure a non constituent MP with visual impairments; and establishment of a professional body for people with visual impairments.

A six-member task force was formed to look into the implementation of these recommendations.

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