Born Short Living Tall has called for an audit to ascertain the exact number of differently abled people who have benefited from Government empowerment initiatives.
Organization Executive Director Ntalasha Chisha told Money FM News in an interview that the organization also wants to know how many Government contracts or tenders have been awarded to companies run by people living with disabilities.
Mr. Chisha observed that people living with disabilities are not included in the mainstream development agenda of the nation, noting that even the current Covid-19 stimulus packages do not include differently abled people who are supposed to be given first priority.
“As an organization concerned with the plight and welfare of differently-abled persons, we are therefore calling for an audit to ascertain how many differently abled people have benefited from Government empowerment initiatives and how many Government contracts or tenders have been awarded to companies run by differently-abled persons.”
“It is important to note that people with disabilities have been marginalized for a long time and no major specific measures for their particular needs and interests have or are been addressed,” Mr. Chisha said.
He added that the rights of differently abled people have continued being shelved and the status quo can only change when the country begins to treat such people equally.
“We have observed that Persons with disabilities face discrimination and barriers that restrict them from participating in many areas of public life, including: employment, education and participation in governance as well as social protection among others. This status quo will only be altered when government and disability organizations begin pulling together in one direction.”
“Unfortunately, the rights of people living with disabilities have continued being shelved and the status quo can only change when we begin treating differently-abled persons as equals,” he said.
And Mr. Chisha appealed to the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services to ensure that the plight of people living with disabilities is addressed.
He said the ministry should come up with a specific empowerment program for the differently abled which must include free skills trainings, startup capital for businesses and referrals for obtaining funds through other line ministries and agencies.
“We urge government to draw programs that meet the needs of all Zambians regardless of their physical status. The inclusion of minority groups in the governance mainstream is essential in building stable democracies including for our country Zambia,” he stated.