SYDNEY SAIZE IN MUTARE
People living with disabilities (PLWDs) in Mutare say they are facing difficulties in acquiring national documents such as birth certificates, national identity documents and passports.
According to Tariro Foundation of Zimbabwe Trust director, Godfrey Gweta, most people with disabilities and those born from parents with disabilities remain undocumented and thus lose out on national programmes where national documents are required for beneficiation.
Tariro Foundation Zimbabwe Trust is a non-governmental organisation that represents the interests of people with disabilities in the country, and currently operating in Manicaland Province.
Gweta said given the challenge faced with people with disabilities in acquiring identity documents Tariro Foundation of Zimbabwe Trust is working with other partners to help ease the process of getting the important documents for their membership.
He said at least 5 000 of its members are set to benefit from the programmes currently underway.
“In our drive for inclusive participation in national issues it is key that people with disabilities are registered first in the country’s database. We need to ensure those that do not have birth certificates, IDs, or passports do have them. We shall work hand in hand with the Registrar’s office to fulfill this,” Gweta said.
He said the lack of identity documents disempowered some people with disabilities as they would be left out in some processes such as getting government and government partners’ food handouts among others.
“We have been observing that people with disabilities do not benefit from programmes such as the Assisted Medical Treatment Order, food aid and inputs owing to the issue of lacking these key documents,” Gweta said.
The Tariro Foundation of Zimbabwe director said the absence of documents hindered their membership in taking part in the electoral process in the country.
“Without identification one cannot register to vote and voting itself let alone contest in the election if one is interested.
“It is with this in mind that we are calling on the Registrar’s office to assist during their mobile registration programme to take note of our plight. The same goes for the onsite mobile clinics to take note of the people living with disabilities during their field visits,” Gweta said.
He said the inclusive participation mantra has to dove-tail with the motto, “Nothing for us without us!”
In addition to the inclusive participation agenda, Tariro Foundation of Zimbabwe Trust is embarking on a self-reliance project to equip the disability community with skill so they do not solely rely on hand-outs.
“It is common knowledge that more often than not, hand-outs are given when there is an excess or an abundance of commodities.
As an organisation we are working in two districts of Manicaland, Mutare and Makoni supporting self-help projects for the vulnerable groups.
“The idea is that we assist these groups for a period of six months and wean them from the project and then work with the others on a rotational basis. This programme runs for 12 months,” Gweta said.
He said Zimbabwe has at least 15% of the population who live with disabilities, and these need assistance and education in sexual reproductive health, assistive devices, vocational training programmes; for the uplifting of their livelihoods.
Gweta said more needs to be done on disability advocacy, legal representation and inclusive adaptive sports and arts genre.
Ryan Mahekeya of Makoni district who works closely with Tariro Foundation of Zimbabwe Trust said it is imperative for the involvement of traditional leaders in some of the programmes being implemented by the organisation for a better appreciation of the needs of people with disabilities by local leaders.
“There is need for a meeting with traditional leaders from where we are operating to sensitise them on the plight of the people with disabilities so they understand and then move together in the implementation of the said projects and programmes,” Mahekeya said.
