29 Nov 2017

 Disability day aims at encouraging a better understanding of people affected by disability, together with helping to make people aware of their rights and  welfare, says Francistown City Council mayor, Ms Sylvia Muzila.

In her remarks during the FCC  commemoration of international day of people with disability, Ms Muzila said it was gratifying for Botswana to be one of the countries that had responded positively to the United Nations (UN) Declaration including the 1981 year of the disabled persons; hence the 2030 Agenda pledge to ‘leave no one behind.’

As such, she encouraged stakeholders to lead by example in promoting the interests, welfare and rights of people living with disabilities.

Ms Muzila explained that Francistown had a total of 405 people living with disabilities, of which 258 were receiving cash allowance while 80 were registered for destitution programme.

Francistown City Clerk, Mr Mompati Seleka said the council, their objectives this year for people living with disabilities, were to increase public awareness in understanding and acceptance of persons who were disabled.

Also, he said it was their intention to increase awareness of gains to be derived from intergration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

Another speaker, Dr Baphaleng Thupiso noted that no one should be left out in the community, especially people with disabilities.

She urged stakeholders to avail opportunities for people living with disabilities because they lead a challenging life.

Dr Thupiso further urged stakeholders to nurture the talents of people living with disabilities so that they could be able to make something of themselves.ENDS