26 Nov 2015

The deputy chief executive officer of Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority, Mr Mphoeng Tamasiga has encouraged People Living With Disabilities (PLWD) to exploit ICTs.

Speaking at a commemoration for people living with disabilities in Gaborone this week, Mr Tamasiga said ICTs were critical for the effective delivery of services such as education. 

The commemoration was held under the theme: Inclusion matters, access and employment of people of all abilities. He said through ICTs, inclusive, accessible education that would empower People Living with Disabilities would be realised.

He noted that exploitation of ICTs could provide opportunities for PLWD to overcome barriers and fully take part in society.

“Findings from the United Nations indicate that People with Disabilities living in developing countries often do not complete primary and secondary education and are less likely to be employed and have less access to affordable healthcare services than their non-disabled counterparts,” he said.

He noted that in the absence of long-term income, many disabled people face the prospect of living on the margins of being excluded.

Mr Tamasiga emphasised that when these ICTs become an integral part of a disability, inclusive development agenda awareness was created to remove barriers to education and learning that could ensure inclusive and meaningful participation for People Living with Disabilities.

“In this regard, providing inclusive and accessible education will therefore go a long way to help Botswana realise one of her goals, of eradicating abject poverty,” said Mr Tamasiga.

He said    policy formulation alone would not achieve inclusive education or provide access and empowerment.

Mr Tamasiga further said parents and teachers alike must continue to fight stigma associated with disability and encourage those children to exploit ICTs to level the playing field.

“I am particularly impressed by the concept of people of all abilities because such an approach recognises ability more than disability. Indeed, this is befitting because ICTs are tools that enable,” said Mr Tamasiga. He also applauded the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture for calling on companies owned by women, youth and people living with disabilities to register for purposes of tendering. He added that it was a proactive gesture meant to facilitate access and empowerment.

For his part, the Member of Parliament for Bonnington South, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe encouraged people living with disabilities to follow suit to what other people living with disabilities had done.

He noted the likes of the former American President, Mr Franklin Roosevelt, who was living with a disability.

Mr Gaolathe also said Mr Roosevelt did not just make the American presidents list, but has gone into the history books by being one of the best presidents of the United States. 

“I want to encourage you that we have to believe that we can become anything that we want to be. We have to believe we can change the world to be a better place,” said Mr Gaolathe. Ends