09 Mar 2015

The South East MP, Mr Samuel Rantuana says ignoring or failing to include People Leaving with Disability (PLWD) in the development of the country is violation of their rights.

Mr Rantuana said this at the Disability Day commemoration in Ramotswa on March 5. He said PLWDs were entitled to enjoy all benefits enjoyed by other citizens of any country adding that it was for that reason that they ought to be involved in the development of any country.

“If we talk of development and then we close our eyes to their challenges, it means we will have to revisit our development plans,” he said. However, he said government was obliged to carry their challenges of PLWDs into new plans with a view to make life easier for them as technology improves.

Furthermore Mr Rantuana said plans should be reviewed time and again to see how best PLWD can fit into the system. He said with the ever improving technology, government should strive to create enabling working environment for PLWD adding that they could be more productive and add value to the economy of the country.

“We have to be proactive in dealing with their challenges and talk less but act more,” Mr Rantuana pointed.

He also pointed that it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in creating a conducive working environment for those living with disablility so as to make them feel embraced in the community they live in.

Hence he indicated that every government has a duty to cater for all its citizens irrespective of their status. Nevertheless Mr Rantuana called for the nation to join hands with government to care for PLWDs and give them first priority.

For his part, the Deputy Chief Tsimane Mokgosi encouraged every citizen to treat PLWDs the way the wish to be treated saying t they are not different from any other citizen

“Being disabled can happen to any of us at any time but it is through love, respect and tolerance from the society that any disabled individual can make it in life,” he said.

He said that it is for the spirit of togetherness that Balete has on PLWD that make them feel at home in the south east district even if they do not originate in Ga-Malete.

Mr Phinda Khame from the disability coordinating office at the Office of the President said that disability issues should be mainstreamed into sectoral policies and programmes to ensure that policy initiative take into cognisance issues of PLWD.

However he said the voice of the disabled should be heard thus encouraging them to come out of their shell and be heard.

“You should be the ones to tell us what you want and so we will be wrong to do what we think is best for you without consulting you,” he said.

He however indicated that everyone ought to learn sign language as a way of communication between the able and disabled.

He went on to encourage stakeholders to submit reports of PLWD during the council meetings saying that they are never brought to their attention.

Meanwhile the head of south east district health management Ms Ellen Rannoba appreciated the encouragement they get from the parents.

She however said that the district registered 100 PLWD but are faced with challenges such as lack of transport and finance among others to speed up projects.

One of the PLWDs, Ms Gabaratane Ntwaagae accused the nation of turn a blind eye on the plight of people living with disability.

She complained that they wait for hours to board a bus and when often struggle to get inside with their wheelchairs unless they get help from a Good Samaritan.

Ms Ntwaagae said that the government should provide buses for the disabled and at least electric wheelchairs to make easy their lives. ENDS