Harare — The Zimbabwe Defence Forces commemorated the International Day of the Disabled at its Tsanga Lodge Rehabilitation Centre in Nyanga on Saturday amid calls to reduce the stigma associated with the handicapped.

Speaking at a Christmas party hosted for handicapped ZDF members, chairman of Tsanga Lodge board of trustees, Major-General Engelbert Rugeje said stigma among the disabled was now a thing of the past in the ZDF.

"Christmas is a special time when we visit and celebrate with our beloved ones.

"The ZDF saw it appropriate to visit here and interact with our colleagues, relatives and friends who were disabled while defending the sovereignty of nations regionally and internationally as required by Southern African Development Community and United Nations guidelines," he said.

"There is a marked improvement in the manner the ZDF cares for its disabled.

"The force now has medical personnel that cater specifically for the disabled, physiotherapists and vocational training centres for the disabled.

"Disabled members of the ZDF also have an opportunity to tour holiday resort areas of their choice, the likes of Victoria Falls, Kariba, Great Zimbabwe and many others under the guidance of Tsanga Lodge rehabilitation staff, an opportunity which is rare among able-bodied members of the ZDF," he said.

Commander of the Democratic Republic of Congo defence forces Major-General Francois Olenga recently donated a Trojan Meridian gym, expedition magnetic cycle, four ankle and wrist weights, nine hand saws, two claw hammers, four woodworking planes, wood glue and wire nails to Tsanga Lodge.

The patients at Tsanga Lodge are involved in a number of ventures such as fishery, carpentry and timber harvesting. Currently, there are 3 000 yearlings of fish under feeding and these are due for harvesting in March 2007.

Carpentry products made by the soldiers at Tsanga Lodge are in high demand and on sale in different furniture outlets around the country.

At least 443 cubic metres of timber was harvested in 2006.

Tsanga Lodge sent 21 inmates to the recent Danhiko Annual Paralympic Games and four -- two of them women -- scooped prizes in shotput and javelin. Tsanga Lodge currently caters for 36 patients at different levels of rehabilitation such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and vocational training at technical centres around the country.