12 Apr 2018

Stakeholders have been urged to offer Persons Living With Disability (PLWDs)a platform to learn voting procedures and ease them access to voting facilities.

Speaking at the launch of the study results on Political Participation of PLWDs in Botswana and The Disability Rights Clinic recently, a researcher from the University of Botswana (UB), Mr Kekgaoditse Suping explained that political participation meant having PLWDs taking part in elections either as voters or candidates.

Mr  Suping said government, elections management bodies, political parties, media, organisations representing PLWDs and University of Botswana Law Department could assist in changing policies and legislatures that excluded PLWDs in political participation.

He said currently there were no specific provisions in the Constitution of Botswana for PLWDs.

He indicated that again, the  Constitution did not acknowledge and protect the fundamental rights of PLWDs.

Instead, he said the Constitution assumed equal opportunities for everyone without consideration of the social, economic and political exclusion faced by PLWDs.

Again, he said various institutions did not fully facilitate for full participation of PLWDs, adding that political party manifestos lacked structures and political support to such individuals.

Further, he said lack of data on PLWDs,  their weak voice to effect change in their favour, rejection and discrimination at polling stations, lack of suitable voting facilities and procedures also remained a concern.

The study, he said, recommended that political parties should develop database of PLWDs within their own parties and in positions of leadership as well as election candidates to cater for equal representation of the concerned persons.

He said government could make specific quotas and reservation of seats for PLWDs at local government level and the National Assembly through specially elected dispensation.

On the other hand, UB deputy vice chancellor in the academic affairs department, Professor David Sebudubudu, said the findings of the study would make a huge difference in students, government, political parties and election management bodies.

In addition, Prof. Sebudubudu said the nation needed research that would help come up with policies influenced by studies. ENDS