6 December 2004
Windhoek — DESPITE the adoption of the disability policy by parliament in July 1997, people with disabilities in Namibia are still experiencing social, economic and political exclusion.
Addressing mostly people with disabilities who were gathered at Zoo Park in Windhoek on Friday for the commemoration of the International Day for People with Disabilities, the Ministry of Lands, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Director on behalf of the Deputy Minister Isack Katali indicated that although the policy is aimed at attaining full social integration of people with disabilities in the country, the campaign to include people with disabilities in the main has not been an easy task as most people still harbour negative attitudes towards people with disabilities.
"Disability is regarded as inability by most of the people in our country. This case could be said to have been prompted by the fact that during pre-independent Namibia, people with disabilities were not recognised and only after the attainment of independence did Namibia join the United Nations and other organisations in the fight for rights of people with disabilities.
"But despite the efforts, people with disabilities are still perceived differently and denied access to basic services such as education, health information, legal services, employment, culture and religion, just to mention a few."
Namibia being a country that embraces laws that guarantee equal rights for every citizen, Katali called on all ministries, NGOs and the private sector to implement the disability policy and create a society for all as the achievement for this goal could only be made a dream come true if the environment is made accessible to all together with other vital services such as education and employment.
Equally, all members of the society should recognise and accept the fact that disability is a natural part of human experience and thus denial of access to services should not be encouraged at any time, he said.
Recent studies in some parts of the world have shown that employment provision for these people would not only reduce the income gaps between people with disabilities and those without but would also reduce social and psychological gaps that exist in most societies.
Further, income significantly reduces the economic and social disparities facing people with disabilities, helping them gain economic security and become integrated in the mainstream society.
Meanwhile, Katali commended the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) for introducing the ballot template for the visually impaired, a decision that shows that all Namibians regardless of their circumstances are granted their rights with all necessary tools made available to them. In consideration of this mostly appreciated step taken by ECN, this year's day for the disabled was commemorated under the theme "People with disability have the right to vote".
At the same gathering, floating trophies were awarded to the best employers of people with disabilities.
Among the awarded were Namib Mills, Shoprite, Telecom, Ministry of Basic Education, Sport and Culture, Ministry of Health and Social Services, and Telecom.
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