10 Feb 2019

Office of the President general counsel, Mr Dittah Molodi says government has taken a decision to ratify the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

Officially closing a three-day training on disability mainstreaming for senior government officials organised by AU on February 8, Mr Molodi said although it took long for Botswana to ratify the convention, all was not lost as government had been implementing some provisions through policies and programmes.

He said as a cross cutting issue, disability required coordinated efforts as well as the involvement and inclusion of people with disabilities into the national development agenda, adding that an inclusive training such as this one was a step into the realisation of that statement.

Mr Molodi said the purpose of any type of training was to ensure that employees had the technical skills needed to perform their jobs efficiently and smoothly.

Through training, he said staff acquired new skills, which apart from enhancing the performance of the organisation, built self-esteem and worth.

He further said ultimately, enhanced skills increased competency, thereby reducing time spent on problem-solving, noting that he believed training had rendered them technically equipped and advanced on disability issues.

Mr Molodi said they were now in a position to positively influence change at a strategic level in all sectors to ensure that the quality of life of people with disabilities was improved and they are served diligently and with utmost respect.

He said the objectives of the training were to provide them with an understanding of disability rights and offer them guidance needed on how best to mainstream disability in the country’s developmental agenda in order to achieve an all inclusive society.

Mr Molodi also urged participants to become advocates for people with disabilities in all spheres of life, breaking the barriers that currently besiege them and allow them an opportunity to prove their worth.

For his part, AU social affairs department senior social welfare officer based in Ethiopia, Mr Lefhoko Kesamang thanked Botswana for hosting the training for officers dealing with issues of disability.

He said only Central African Republic and Burkina Faso had appended their signatures on the convention. ENDS