08 Dec 2019

Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu says preparations are thick on the ground for government to ratify United Nations Convention on persons with disabilities. 

Speaking at a commemoration of United Nations International Day for Persons with Disabilities in Tsabong on December 5, he said President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi confirmed in his recent State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) that government had made significant progress to pave way for Botswana to accede to the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

He said a draft National Disability Framework which comprised of the draft revised national disability policy of 2019, the strategy, the implementation plan as well as the disability legislation were being developed.  This, he said, demonstrated government’s commitment to equality, mainstreaming disability and removing barriers that hinder the inclusion of people living with disabilities in all sectors.

The framework created an enabling environment for the people living with disabilities to reach their full potential in both their public lives and private spaces.

Regarding the theme; The Future is Accessible, Mr Mthimkhulu said government continued to strive to make life easier for the people living with disabilities on education, transport, economic empowerment, social protection and health.

He said government was in the process of reviewing the road transport permit act of 1973, and the draft bill of 2017 to incorporate universal design approach to improve access to transport for people living with disabilities.

On buildings, he said, government buildings inaccessibility was a challenge thus government was reviewing the building regulations of 1981 and the building control act of 1962 to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

He noted that the 2017 Botswana Demographic Survey indicated that 90 945 people were reported to have disabilities, thus government continued to make strides to cater for the populace.

Such areas, he said, were improving access to education for learners with disabilities especially on early identification and intervention by availing financial resources to facilitate learners with special needs.

Furthermore, Mr Mthimkhulu said, government continued to facilitate economic empowerment of people living with disabilities through Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) where they had registered business companies and also through the poverty eradication programme where 1 385 had benefitted.

Reading the message on behalf of the United Nations secretary general, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Representative Mr Kulekani Mpofu said government of Botswana agreed to ratify United Nations Convention on the rights of persons living with disabilities in 2018. He said Botswana was one of the few remaining countries that had not yet ratified the UN convention but they took note of President Dr Masisi’s re-affirmation on this commitment in his recent SONA.

Thus he said the UNDP shall offer government the necessary support in preparation for the ratification of the convention on the rights of persons living with disabilities.

The UN shall support the development of a national disability framework, national disability strategy as well as the national disability law so that the needs and aspirations of persons living with disabilities were taken into consideration. “I congratulate the government of Botswana in its commitment to ratify the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and encourage ratification,” he said, adding that this would go a long way in ensuring that government empowered people living with disabilities, ensured inclusiveness and equality and left no one behind in the quest for inclusive national development.

For his part, a person living with disability, Mr Omphemetse Titisi appreciated government support for people living with disabilities albeit faced with challenges.

He said he was financially assisted by Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development to buy a sound system to start a business in the music industry. He said living with disability was a challenge which needed one to change mindset in order to overcome.

The gospel artist said perseverance and encouragement from people enabled him to get to where he was today.

He said all those who were physically disabled should remember that even people who were physically fit faced challenges and therefore one must focus on what they sought to achieve rather than wail over their physical disability.

 Activities of the commemoration also included a beauty pageant where Ms Mpho Itaoleng of Werda was crowned the queen, Tiny Matshogo of Kolonkwaneng got first princess Kamogelo title while Golaolwang of Khuis was crowned second princess. ENDS