Disability advocates urge political parties to set priorities ahead of November elections • 360 Mozambique

Organizations representing people with disabilities want political parties to make a deliberate effort to accommodate them in the run-up to the November elections.

The policies of most political parties fail to achieve this, they say.

Petra Dillman, the founder of the Autism Association of Namibia and a member of the National Disability Networking forum, said at a meeting in Windhoek yesterday that stakeholders should study the party manifestos thoroughly before deciding who to vote for in November.

“I suggest that instead of targeting people in current posts, we should consider going through all the manifestos and see which political party is more accommodating to people with disabilities as keynote speakers at upcoming events. “Society is actually the limiting factor in the integration of people with disabilities into kindergartens, schools, churches, tertiary institutions and work/employment,” she said.

Speaking at another meeting earlier in Windhoek, Matheus Hashoongo of the National Federation for Persons with Disabilities in Namibia said political party leaders should develop policies that focus on the social well-being of people with disabilities.

“People with disabilities need to be empowered in different ways, rather than just increasing social benefits for the disabled,” he said.

“I am dissatisfied that political parties’ manifestos only focus on increasing disability benefits, when the priority should be on social protection and empowerment,” Hashongo said.

Filmed for food

He expressed concern about the trend of filming people with disabilities in exchange for alcohol or food.

“Recent incidents, such as those involving the so-called Zoo Park lady and the late Tate Geya, highlight this growing problem,” he said.

In these incidents, people with disabilities were filmed in exchange for food or alcohol.

“This also jeopardizes their future by exposing them to gender-based violence (GBV), sexual exploitation and human trafficking,” Hashoongo said.

Martin Tjivera, the founder of the Namibian National Association of the Deaf, says access to basic services such as healthcare and police assistance, as well as employment, remains a challenge for the deaf community.

‘Vague manifestos’

Ebenhard Ripunda, director and co-founder of the Association for Wheelchair Users, says it is necessary to include people with disabilities in decision-making structures.

“Our society’s general approach to disability is to keep us close enough to feel included, but far enough away to ensure we don’t make any meaningful contribution.

“Some of the slopes offered are too steep, making it difficult for them to access public services,” he says.

Orben Muluti, chairman of the Namibian Organization for Youth with Disabilities, says political parties do not prioritize issues affecting people with disabilities.

“Their manifestos are quite vague. You can say that we are going to give jobs to this number of young people, but you do not indicate how you can at least ensure that 5% of these jobs go to people with disabilities,” he says.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Disability Affairs Alexia Manombe-Ncube says sign language must be recognized to uphold the linguistic and human rights of the deaf community.

She was speaking at an International Week of the Deaf and International Day of Sign Languages ​​event in Windhoek on Monday

“In September 2023, I submitted a motion to Parliament on the recognition of advocating for quality multilingual inclusive education that enables the inclusion of deaf students through a national sign language,” she said.

Manombe-Ncube says the recognition of sign language as an official language affirms the identity and dignity of the deaf community and removes major barriers to communication and public participation.

Political parties respond

Ephraim Nekongo, secretary of the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL), says his party plans to have the manifesto translated into natural languages, including Braille.

“We have always tried to use sign language interpreters for the deaf for our events. Maybe we need to iron out the consistency,” he says.

He says Swapo has always made a conscious effort to ensure that people with disabilities are represented.

According to the Swapo Manifesto, Namibia spends approximately N$8 billion per year on social protection for the most vulnerable members of society.

Independent Patriots For Change president Panduleni Itula has tasked 96 of the party’s parliamentary candidates to make inclusive laws.

“If you bring a bill for me to sign and implement, make sure it does not discriminate against people with disabilities,” he said. “If we consider all disabled people, in all categories, as minorities, we must ensure accessibility in every aspect,” he said. “We cannot allow democratic tyranny, where our parliamentarians make laws that victimize minorities,” Itula said.

Joyce Muzengua, leader of the Landless People’s Movement (Human Rights Command), says the party has indicated in its manifesto that it plans to build more special schools.

“Each of Namibia’s 14 regions would have a special school equipped to meet the specific needs of children with disabilities.”

Muzengua said the party would translate its manifesto into Braille and multiple languages ​​to ensure accessibility for all, including communities with disabilities.

“Public facilities, including government buildings, elevators and bathrooms, need to be adapted to meet their specific needs across society,” he says.

See also

National Empowerment Fighting Corruption (NEFC) Party Vice Chairman Stefanus Matheus says the party will allocate land to people with disabilities.

“Despite the shortcomings in the manifesto, we confidently made a public appeal for people with disabilities after reviewing the ECN disability database and making announcements,” he said.

He said the party has reserved jobs for people with disabilities and deaf people who qualify.

“The party has decided that certain seats on the NEFC parliamentary list will remain vacant until suitable candidates, people with disabilities, are identified,” he said.

“We cannot allow our brothers and sisters to become dependent on social benefits if they want to go to school and become who they want to become,” he says.

According to social justice activist Nafimane Hamukoshi, the plight of people with disabilities highlights a crucial intersection of rights, dignity and social responsibility that requires urgent attention.

“The exploitation of vulnerable individuals through social media not only undermines their humanity, but also perpetuates systemic inequalities that further marginalize them,” she says.

Hamukoshi says the voices of people with disabilities need to be amplified in decision-making processes.

Manombe-Ncube recently said that misconceptions about the ability of Namibians with disabilities to work have led to the community struggling to find work.

Source: Namibia