Back to Index

Remarks on the International Day of the Disabled Persons
Farai Cherera, National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe (NCDPZ)
December 03, 2008

Once again we are gathered to commemorate a special day in the lives of people with disabilities, the International Day of Disabled Persons (IDD). At United Nations level, the theme for this year' International Day is "Dignity and Justice for All of Us." In the NCDPZ, this year we have two themes:

1. We demand equal opportunities for people with disabilities in Zimbabwe
2. Zimbabwe is a country of hope and opportunity for people with disabilities

This year's commemoration is different from our previous years for a number of reasons. If truth be told, our beloved country is currently going through the most difficult times we have ever experienced since we attained independent rule in 1980. The economy has collapsed, which is the reason why our own money cannot buy anything and we have resorted to foreign money such as the Rand, Pula and the American Dollar. Inflation has been rated the worst since the dawn of civilization in this world. Our hospitals, clinics and other health centers have been turned into mortuaries because there are no medicines and bandages, and the medical personnel is on strike that has been going on for a long time. This is the reason why cholera outbreak is on the increase in many parts of the country. There is almost zero attendance in schools because of teachers' strikes. A majority of parents cannot afford school fees which in a majority of schools and other institutions of learning is now payable in foreign currency. The food and water situation is at its worst in the history of the country due to growing poverty and the confusing political situation which is not benefiting especially us people with disabilities, as our political leaders cannot agree on the way forward.

It is against this grim background, that we are today commemorating this International Day of Disabled. People with disabilities are experiencing the worst effects of today's living in Zimbabwe because of total collapse of social services. We have become the forgotten lot and this is a serious cause for concern that we should highlight today, because this is our day. Infact, the IDD is a special day that was chosen by the United Nations at the conclusion of the UN Decade of Disabled Persons in 1993. It is a day on which we make a critical analysis of the living conditions of people with disabilities, and raise awareness on disability generally.

International Day of Disabled is a day to raise awareness about the specific needs and ability of disabled people. It is time to recognize, listen to the voices of disabled people wherever they are and whatever their situation is. This is very important as disability is viewed in a very negative way due to cultural factors, ignorance, superstition and fear. In some places disability is considered a curse or punishment from God. Disabled people are seen as half human and not fit to participate meaningfully in society's mainstream activities. Many families or parents of disabled children are ashamed of them and therefore hide them from public view or they overprotect them thus denying them opportunities for development.

We would like to use this opportunity to thank the United Nations for adopting the New Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The purpose of this convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities.

The Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities has the following eight guiding principles:

Respect for inherent - dignity , individual autonomy including the freedom to make one's own choices, and independence of persons;

1. Non-discrimination;
2. Full and effective participation and inclusion in the society;
3. Respect for difference and acceptance of disabled people as part of human diversity and humanity;
4. Equality and opportunity;
5. Accessibility;
6. Equality between men and women;
7. Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities to preserve their identities.

Human rights workshop

As an organization, we managed to hold Human Rights Workshops in Mutare, Masvingo, Gweru, Mukumbwa, Gwanda and Sanyati to educate our members on their rights. We believe that if people with disabilities are aware of their rights they are also able to make informed decisions. If funds permit, we intent to hold more workshops on Human Rights.

We urge all our branches around the country to demand their rights because no one will give these rights in a silver plate. We urge our government to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities. Many countries in the world have signed it except Zimbabwe.

Let us stand up and voice our concerns from all corners of our country with regards to exclusion in matters of importance to our lives. There's need to promote the new UN Convention as this will enable our government and all stakeholders to mainstream disability in all their programmes.

HIV/AIDS and violence against women and children with disabilities

Besides efforts put by Action Aid Harare to assist the organization to carry out a research on women with disabilities and HIV/AIDS, a lot of people with disabilities are dying from this disease because of ignorance especially in rural areas where most of our membership lives. They lack information because programmes in rural areas leave them out when they hold HIV/AIDS workshops. They are totally not involved. As the NCDPZ we are concerned that:

• There is no Braille material on HIV/AIDS;
• A lot of women and children are sexually abused;
• There is a lot of violence against women and children with disabilities;
• Most women are raped by their fathers, brothers, uncles and community at large, who take advantage of their disabilities. I call upon all disabled women and children to report cases of abuse to their nearest Police Stations or report to any NCDPZ structures. We want to put an end to the abuse of women and children with disabilities. The perpetrators should be given long term imprisonment for abusing someone who is defenseless. Let us use the law on gender and make it work by reporting our cases.

Conclusion

I would like to say to our branches, let's continue with community stakeholders meetings to sensitize on disability issues and encourage them to mainstream disability in all their development programmes. Let us raise our voices knowing that one day we will be heard. To our government, all stakeholders and donor community, we say disabled people need your support. They are hungry, they need projects, they need humanitarian assistance; they need everything that non- disabled people enjoy.

Last but not least, I want to take this opportunity to thank all stakeholders who supported us during the period under review.

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