Frederick Philander
16 September 2004
Windhoek — PEOPLE with disabilities, generally disadvantaged and dehumanised, have waited too long time for the establishment of a National Disability Council that can look after their specific interests and affairs.
This was said yesterday in the National Assembly by Hifikepunye Pohamba, Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, who received overwhelming support for the Bill providing for the establishment of such a body.
The National Disability Council is catered for in the National Disability Policy that was accepted by the House in 1997.
"Our quest to equalise opportunities for fellow Namibians with disabilities, is not unique to Namibia.
We are answering the call made throughout Africa and the rest of the world to guarantee the rights of people with disability and to mainstream their needs into the national development plans," said Pohamba, when he submitted the Bill for which disabled people have been waiting for six years.
The Minister admitted that disparity still exists between policy intentions and policy implementation.
"There exists disparities in the living conditions between the approximately 85 000 disabled people compared to those of other citizens, specifically in education, training, employment and access to health services. These disparities cut across all services. They need to be addressed by way of a well-structured, implementation and monitoring process, through a legal framework that will facilitate policy implementation," Pohamba said.
The proposed 13-member National Disability Council's function will include making recommendations on law reforms.
"The drafting of this Bill is not a product of my Ministry alone, but it's a national document that reflects the views, opinions and concerns of a significant number of stakeholders," he said.
McHenry Venaani supported the Bill wholeheartedly on behalf of the DTA/UDF coalition.
"This Bill can help change the traditional taboos about disabled people in our society. Namibian society must accept and understand that disabled people are as normal as anyone else. We must encourage educational institutions not to discriminate against such learners," Venaani said.
In his opinion, the days are permanently gone when disabled learners were turned away from schools because of their disabilities.
"Disability has nothing to do with inability. Disabled people must be allowed to fully participate in national affairs and churches, and running centres for disabled people must be assisted to continue their operations," said Hadino Hishongwa, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Employment Creation, in support of the Bill.
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