By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
Masvingo – Less attention is being paid to the people living with disabilities and they are still being marginalized by the society.
This came out at the stakeholder meeting that was held today at Masvingo Civic centre where the Deputy Minister of Women affairs and SMEs J.N Mhlanga was present guest of honor.
Executive Director of Zimbabwe Association of the visually handicapped Timothy Mudarikwa said that a lot still needs to be done for inclusion of the people living with disabilities.
“People living with disabilities are hardly recognised and are left out on many programs hence there is no inclusion. 1, 5 -2million of Zimbabwe’s population is made up of people living with disabilities and Masvingo has the highest population but a little attention is being paid to them. We then wonder where is the inclusion is?” he said.
He said that he once wrote a proposal in 2018.
“In 2018 I once wrote a proposal in 2018 and l was just told the project was okay but till now nothing has been done, there is no action. We are also part of the population so something has to be done for us. Let there be results and will be a happy lot,” said Mudarikwa.
He added that the funds for the disabled should be disbursed.
“It is said that there is a 5million dollars fund for the people living with disabilities but if we go to the bank, we are told that there are no funds which is not fair as we also need that funding for our development and this is the main reason why people living with disabilities remain poor as they are marginalized and there is no development for them,” he said.
The Deputy Minister Hon Mhlanga said that they are going to do all they can to correct this mistake and make a way forward.
“This is an issue people overlook and as the ministry a lot has to be done for change, this is the reason why we came to you so that will gather all the necessary information, we need so as to make corrections to our mistakes,” said Hon Mhlanga.
