23 Mar 2017

People living with disabilities are a responsibility for everyone and should be accepted and assisted by society, says Kgosi Patrick Moseki of Middlepits.

Guest speaker, Mr Alpheous Ramotsababa urged the community to know that people living with disability should live dignified lives and also the principle of inclusiveness must be deployed amongst them so they could be independent.

For his part, the head of department for people living with disabilities, Mr Allen Mbakile said the objective of commemorating the day of the disabled was for society to have a common understanding of people living with disabilities and also to evaluate what the community has achieved in helping them.

Mr Mbakile encouraged people to make sure that they take care of people living with disabilities and also that they should assist them to improve their lifestyles and to embrace their humanity and not to take advantage of the services they get from government.

When sharing her experience, Ms Bontleeng Motsewapuo, a person living with disability and also the winner of the beauty pageant (Miss disability) said she was grateful for the government of Botswana who was helping them with everything to make their lives better and also the community members who were taking care of the disabled people.

Ms Motsewapuo urged the community not to discriminate them but rather accept and help them in improving their lives and make them feel welcomed in the community.

The chairperson of the Kgala-Borwa Association of people living with disabilities, Mr Lucky Tities added that their association comprises people with different talents and they were trying as the association to sensitise people that disability was not inability so they should empower  people with disabilities.

He added that empowering people with disability would make them get exposed to the community which would help them improve their lifestyles by engaging in daily activities.

Mr Tities also encouraged people living with disabilities to come up with ideas which they could use to improve their lifestyle rather than depending on the government for help and that they should use what they have to improve their daily lives.

Those who participated in Mr & Miss Disability were awarded appreciation gifts. ENDS