05 Dec 2021

Government is committed to accommodating people living with disabilities (PLWDs) in the mainstream society. Speaking at the United Nations International Day for PLWD in Kasane on December 3, 

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Kabo Morwaeng said government’s commitment was demonstrated by the country’s accession to the Convection on the rights of people living with disabilities this year. 

He said the convention advocated change of attitude towards people living with disabilities and also adopted a completely new paradigm shift by moving from viewing them as objects of sympathy to individuals with rights like everybody else. 

Mr Morwaeng said this year’s commemoration theme, ‘Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 world’ promoted leadership participation in ensuring that COVID-19 strategies were comprehensive and included people living with disabilities. 

He added that the theme also provided everyone with opportunity to assess whether the current COVID-19 interventions were disability friendly. 

“It is envisaged that the involvement of the leadership in disability related issues will not only yield positive results for them but will also provide the much-needed drive to bring about the desired affirmative action policy for them, and Botswana’s stern commitment was demonstrated by the accession to the Convention early this year,” he said. 

He said PLWD were a vulnerable group exposed to a lot of challenges, which isolated them from active participation in socio-economic, political and cultural activities in their communities. 

The minister noted that the society was obligated to make things better for them by creating a balanced environment, which promoted their active participation. 

“We have to be accommodative in all decisions taken especially on matters affecting people living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups like the elderly, hence the need to create awareness on their livelihoods through all possible means including this commemoration,” he said. 

Minister Morwaeng said in addition to the accession to the Convention on the Rights of People Living with Disabilities, Parliament had approved the Revised National Policy on Disabilities and the two developments jointly ushered in a policy direction that would see robust transformation to the betterment of the quality of life for PLWD in Botswana. He noted that the next crucial steps entailed domesticating the Convention through enacting laws and policies. 

“The recent approval of the policy was one step in that direction and it came at a crucial time when government’s Reset agenda was being implemented,” he said. 

He added that the revised policy which replaced the 1996 Policy on Care for Persons Living with Disabilities, took a rights-based approach to disability and represented a shift away from a charity model, which focused on people living with disabilities as recipients of welfare. 

Also, he said processes of developing a Disability Bill were at an advanced stage and the bill would possibly be discussed in the next sitting of Parliament. 

He said the policy promoted and protected the rights of PLWD, thus it was imperative that all ministries mainstreamed disability in their annual plans and budgets. 

The ministry’s permanent secretary, Ms Pearl Ramokoka implored government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to facilitate provision of a conducive environment for PLWD. 

Botswana Council for Disabled Persons chairperson, Mr Dickinson Samaemo thanked government for acceding to the Convention on the Rights PLWD and including sign language among local languages that would be introduced as a medium of instruction in schools. 

He thus encouraged the public to learn sign language and braille. Mr Samaemo said COVID-19 had made life for PLWDs difficult as some could not return to school or therapy. 

He called on government departments to ensure they set aside a certain number of vacancies for employment of PLWD, and for businesses to contribute towards empowering them. 

UNDP resident representative, Mr Balazs Horvath called for extra support for PLWD who he said lived in isolation, discrimination and abject poverty. 

Mr Horvath said PLWD should have equal rights as other people, who are capable and should be given opportunity to participate in decision making.  BOPA