By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
Masvingo – Power cuts and shortage of water supply in Masvingo has seen the people living with disabilities face a lot of challenges making the current environment not conducive for them.
Whenever a crisis happens different people are affected and if you are not part of the people being affected you will never know what they are going through.
Water is becoming a scarce commodity and also the availability of electricity for a few hours is affecting those living with disabilities.
Their rights are being deprived.
In a side interview with the National Council of Disabled Persons in Zimbabwe, Youth Chairperson Vengai Kurinzirwa, said power cuts are making life unbearable for the people living with a disability.
“The issue of power cuts is very crucial and should be of much concern, besides the economic challenges we are facing, power cuts have made life expensive for the disabled people since many families are unemployed,” he said.
He indicated that not everyone affords to have a gas tank at their homes and then it becomes a problem for the physically challenged women as they have to fetch firewood.
“We have physically challenged women, and they have a motherly duty to play and when it comes to fetching firewood when there is no power, this becomes a difficult task and they resort to buying firewood or buying gas to cook, of which many cannot afford this and also the government is offering little grants for the disabled. The vulnerable groups need to be put first before everyone else” said Kurinzirwa.
One of the members of the National Council of the Disabled persons, Charity Masango expressed her concern over the water shortages.
“I am also living with a disability, I am physically challenged and how is it possible for me to fetch water from a borehole or well nearby, some of the boreholes you even have to travel long distances and this is a huge disadvantage for me and the others at large.
“Sometimes water is connected during midnight and I have no one to help me fetch water. Those in power should also consider us and try by all means to make our living conditions better for us as it is our right to have clean water. The able boded do not have problems even if they travel to go and fetch water or having to stand in a queue for water but l cannot. We plead with our council to bear with us and make our lives bearable,” said Masango.
Kurinzirwa also weighed on how the water crisis has affected the physically challenged.
“The issue of water crisis in Masvingo has had more impact on the physically challenged, sometimes water will be connected in the midnight and our helpers and neighbours will be sleeping to help us fetch water, we have heard that council is providing residents with bowser of water , but most of those with physical disabilities they cannot access that water.
“The Councilor’s should identify those who are physically challenged in their respective wards and make sure that water for those with physical disabilities is reserved so that it is distributed to them at their doorsteps. If this is made sure of, l am sure will be less burdened,” said Kurinzirwa.
