13 Jul 2014

The Office of the President (OP) together with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development are working on modalities of introducing disability allowance for people living with disabilities (PWDs).

Chief disability officer, Mr Hamilton Mogatusi said recently in response to a question from Mr Edwin Phalane during a kgotla meeting to sensitise the community about disability unit and services offered at OP.

Mr Phaladi wanted to know when government would introduce disability allowance to improve the living standard of PWDs.

 He said the majority of people living with disabilities are unemployed and some are unable to access or benefit from government initiatives geared towards improving their lives.

Mr Mogatusi said an announcement would be made once everything has been finalised, adding that the allowance would not be given to all PWDs. 

He said it would be a means tested as a thorough assessment would be conducted to find people who are entitled to the allowance.

Furthermore, he said government was committed to assisting people with disabilities socially, economically and politically so that they make meaningful contributions towards national development.

He informed the residents about the introduction of the disability exemption identity card for all the citizens living with disability, which will make it easier for them to access services, as well as benefit from social safety net programmes.

He therefore urged those staying with people with disabilities to register them so they could enjoy these benefits.

Further, he indicated that government has started affirmative action to empower those living with disabilities and get them into the world of work, highlighting that they do not discriminate against anyone.

He said in the past, PWDs were subjected to social stigma because people treated them as sick people.

Mr Mogatusi said government has formulated a policy and included some provisions based on the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

He said Botswana is a member state to the UN but has not yet ratified the convention, noting that the policy is being implemented and would be ratified in future.

The purpose of the convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

Mr Mogatusi encouraged people living with disabilities to take advantage of initiatives in place aimed at improving the quality of life, such as poverty eradication, adding that it is the aim of the government to see people graduating from poverty.

He advised them to approach financial institutions like Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) to request for funds to start sustainable businesses, which would employ others. ENDS