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ZESA should revisit switching off of COPOTA School for the Blind
National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH)
February 29, 2012

While the National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH) fully sympathises with ZESA in its bid to recoup revenue due to the power utility by switching off electricity to errant consumers countrywide, there is a corresponding need for ZESA to exercise due care and informed discretion in carrying out this exercise so that activities vital to the nation are not disrupted and unnecessary harm avoided.

The switching off of electricity to Copota School for the Blind in Masvingo, an institution which is a beacon of hope for people with disabilities in the country and has churned thousands of students who have gone on to become university graduates and skilled employees able to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country and raise the profile of disability, is an unfortunate and unconscionable development that must surely rate as one of the lowest points in human relations in the country this year.

Copota, a boarding institution, is home to over 300 children with disabilities, including those with visual, hearing and physical impairments. The majority of these children are from low income backgrounds and rely on the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) facility from the government to sustain their education. However, for some time now, the BEAM facility has not been forthcoming and this has resulted in the school not being able to meet a number of requirements including the payment of electricity bills. Clearly, the institution is not to blame.

Furthermore, in a bid to forestall the switching off of electricity at the centre, the institution paid off $10 000 from the total bill of $24 000. Despite these positive intentions, ZESA proceeded to cut off the institution from the power supply grid.

Children with disabilities need a lot of attention and care with regard to basic living skills and as a result of the electricity cut-off, the toilets at the institution are in a downright mess, cooking for the children has become a cumbersome affair, laboratory activities have been disrupted, water supply has been affected, and a disease outbreak is looming. The situation is dire.

What is further disheartening is to hear of reports in the press that some prominent officials with electricity bills that run well over $100 000 are being spared from the electricity cut-offs, while institutions like Copota are being switched off.

Children are mankind's greatest asset; not only do they keep the human race alive - they also perpetuate the transmission of the body of knowledge, and hence development, from generation to generation. They are our most enduring legacy, guarantors of our civilisation, past and present, and need to be nurtured with meticulous care and accorded all the support necessary so that they can reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully towards the realisation of a world fit for all.

We urge ZESA to revisit the Copota saga and play its part in creating an enabling environment for children, especially children with disabilities, like every right-thinking member of society.

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