13 Mar 2019

Chairperson of Ngami voices for people living with disability, Mr Edwin Phalane, has decried lack of recognition and support from the community.

He expressed his concern in an interview recently.

He said though the association registered with the Botswana Council for Disabled in 2015, members of the society were not coming forth to support them.

Mr Phalane said efforts were made to make the association more visible.

He revealed that the association, through the assistance of the Department of Social and Community Development, embarked on an awareness campaign in 2017, throughout Ngamiland in an effort to take the association to the people.

He stated the they were encountering challenges such as lack of office space, adding that they approached the district commissioner to assist, but their efforts bore no fruits.

In addition, he said they appealed to the business community and the public at large to assist in kind so that they could have a place to operate from, but to no vain.

Mr Phalane said it seemed residents had no interest to assist people living with disabilities, adding that even some government policies were not favourable to them.

“Lack of support is a serious challenge as people still view persons with disabilities as objects, which cannot do anything for themselves and yet we are capable of claiming our rights and making decisions for ourselves,” he added.

He noted that they operated from his house and members were complaining that the association was failing its mandate.

He also revealed that they heard about small grants from the national coordinating office for people living with disability, but they had not yet applied for them. In a random interview, some stakeholders differed with the association’s chairman’s remarks, noting that they view disabled society as people who could earn a living.

They appreciated though that disabled people were faced with a number of challenges such as access to buildings and transport, access to education, health services, employment, information as well as political participation.

They wished everyone could embrace issues of people with disabilities. They also hailed the formation of the association, saying it would effectively advocate for people with disabilities’ rights.

The acting deputy district commissioner, who is also the district chairperson of people living with disability, Mr Ramogaupi Gaborekwe said issues of people with disabilities needed a collective approach, adding that a lot has to be done to uplift the disabled to an equal footing with their fellow citizens.

He appreciated that some government departments had heeded the call to cater for people with disabilities, citing the Department of Buildings in Maun, which he said had constructed a new building with a ramp.

Mr Gaborekwe also cited Department of Roads, which he said had catered for them in terms of roads designs noting that in parking lots, there was space reserved for them.

He also indicated that different media houses were doing a good job to provide coverage for activities and programmes for people with disabilities.

In terms of employment he said some companies had also responded positively to hire them.

“That is a sign of taking their issues seriously and I urge other departments and organisations to mainstream issues of people with disabilities in their plans, services and programmes,” he added. ENDS