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Nothing for us without us
Students Solidarity Trust
April 08, 2011

The land question has come to define ZANU PF's clinging on to power as they claim that it was this precious resource that sent many Zimbabweans to fight the Ian Smith regime from 1966 when the second Chimurenga started. Indeed, in the minds of all the freedom fighters, participatory democracy was also supposed to be a by-product of the victory especially at independence after the guns had gone silent. Zimbabweans, therefore, hoped that after the barrel of the gun had given way to the barrel of the pen, there would be more participation from ordinary citizens. Shockingly, we are now hearing the talk of a return to the barrel of the gun and resolution of issues through bullets and not ballots whenever ZANU PF has been put on the back foot. The argument from ZANU PF is that by having regular elections, albeit on an unlevel playing field, people are given a chance to elect representatives of their choice. However, there has not been much in terms of consultation as far as legislation is concerned by the elected representatives.

From 5 to 8 April, the University of Zimbabwe's Theatre Arts Department and the Disability Resource Centre in conjunction with the Students solidarity Trust, organized a theatre arts week wherein the focus was disability. Under the theme "navigating and renegotiating marginality", various academic presentations and arts performances were showcased bringing out the lack of consultation students with disabilities in particular and people living with disabilities at large have had to live with.

Despite the advancement in technology, students with disabilities continue to face huge problems accessing gadgetry that can assist them in their education. Due to fiscal stress, the state is now unable to provide some of these basic needs to its citizens living with disabilities making it extremely difficult to keep pace with the rest of the class. Accessibility continues to be a challenge for most students with disabilities with public buildings such as the University of Zimbabwe a nightmare for a student with disability. Access to upper floors is virtually restricted to those with physical disabilities. This has in some instances been detrimental to students who have missed lectures or tutorials as a result. Apart from moral persuasion, there is nothing in the statutes compelling lecturers to move their lectures to a more accessible part of the college. As punitive fees continue to be demanded of students at these institutions, there seems to be no derived benefit to students with disabilities as they continue to be marginalised. An accommodation crisis whose genesis was the eviction of students on July 9 2007 has meant that students are currently staying a good 20 minutes walk from their lecture rooms.

As Independence Day approaches, it is time for students to ensure that there will be nothing for them without them. It is important to ensure that public policy is introduced after the necessary consultation. Attitudes by the state and other players who want to play the big brother role should change and students with disabilities should dictate their own course

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