By Tsepang T. Nare
For years the community of persons with disabilities (PWDs) has hoped to get the attention of the church in their efforts to amplify their voices in calling for meaningful inclusion through promotion and observance of their human rights. A Chinese proverb says “aim high and you will not touch the sky but at least you will land on a treetop”. 2015 nationwide Demographic and Health Survey conducted by the government statistics agency indicates that 86 per cent of the population are Christians making it more prudent to penetrate through the religious sector with the hope to bring about behavioural change.
Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) bold step to unanimously come up with a resolution centred on church denominations associated with this fellowship of churches embarking on an internal process of reforming and taking a proactive role in championing disability rights could not have come at a better time than this. Soon after ZCC’s 2020 general assembly, it became necessary to implement a raft of measures centred on this community.
Therefore, a national assessment survey on disability inclusion towards a society fit for all was put in motion. The survey took a period of 3 months from December to March with PWDs engaged to take a leading role as research consultants. A total of 5 198 participants took part.
On the 1st of September 2021 history was made following the official launch of the much-awaited survey report which was done virtually. What became extraordinary was the stance the church had taken through its transition from the charity model to a human rights-based approach centred on sustained societal transformation and identification of areas of progress made and gaps that warrant the need to advance and intensify advocacy through imploring key strategic interventions.
It is the backdrop of the disability inclusion report whose findings show great dissatisfaction with the extent to which policymakers act on the views of persons with disabilities. 39% of respondents felt that to some extent they do while 29% indicated that these people do not act on their views, whereas 20% were just not sure. Over the years persons with disabilities have continued to bear the brunt of being second class citizens and with Covid 19 coming in only to show its ugly face, their challenges have been amplified, further entrenching inequality leading to a heightened degree of exclusion.
This has been evidenced in the educational sector as programmes meant to facilitate continued learning during a pandemic have largely been exclusive. Not to mention the health care sector, were statistics of PWDs who have been infected, those who have died and the vaccinated have not been availed, as well as government’s failure to provide social safety nets considering that the greater population of the community relies on the informal trading sector has all led to disproportionate suffering. As all this happens, a constituency representative has been present yet lacking that critical voice to ensure no one is left behind.
More so, the survey also looked at the accessibility of officials and policymakers to PWDs where 45% indicated that to some extent Members of Parliament (MPs) are available while 29% indicated that they are not available at all, with only 12% agreeing that members of parliament are available. As for local government councillors, 47% responded by saying to some extent while 29 indicated that they are not available at all and 20% agreed that they are available. As for cabinet ministers, 40% indicated that to some extent they are available whereas 29% did not agree with that at all and only 14% agreed with the fact that they are available.
This therefore further shows the disconnection between PWDs who form part of the electorate and their duty bearers elected to be representatives. It can be noted that during the 2020 proposed constitutional amendment bill No 2, nothing disability-related was factored in. Despite undertaking efforts to come up with position papers and petitioning the parliament calling for increased representation of PWDs as only 2 seats are reserved under Section 120 of the constitution, it all fell on deaf ears.
As Zimbabwe strives to attain an upper-middle economy class status through its National Development strategy, a constituency amongst the population remains relegated which then thwarts efforts and derails progress as the success of the vision is underpinned on collaborative and concerted efforts. Therefore, the increased representation of PWDs across all levels of government is the bedrock for disability inclusion leading to the realisation for self-determination.
The survey revealed three broad-based barriers which result in this community’s failure to unleash its potential. This emanates from societal stigma and discrimination, dependency on donations and insensitivity or inaction by policymakers.
It is availing opportunities to showcase leadership skills that reveal capability and thus also enable the creation of favourable environments that foster economic empowerment through enacting disability sensitive policies and other legislative frameworks.
Moreover, political institutions have a pivotal role to play by amending their constitutions in order to speak to the aspirations of PWDs who wish to be duty bearers as the survey has unearthed heightened levels of exclusion in societies. Inclusive societies are made possible when there is nothing for us without us.
