‘Empower people with disabilities’

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Lovemore Zigara, Midlands Correspondent
The nation has been urged to empower people with disabilities through education so that they do not become charity cases that rely on handouts.
Senator Anna Shiri made the remarks at Gwavachemai Secondary School in Zvishavane during a prize giving ceremony.

She said there is need to empower people with disabilities through formal education as well as vocational skills development so that they can take care of themselves.

Senator Shiri, who represents the National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe, said some of the challenges faced by such people can be eradicated if the nation stops looking at disabled persons as charity cases.

She said: “Education helps people with disabilities to cope and adapt to economic uncertainties at national and global level. I urge parents to educate their children because the school setting is one of the first places that children learn to relate and interact with one another.

“Education enables the community to greatly benefit because children learn traditions, culture and faith reflected in the education system. Education isn’t just good to the person who becomes educated, but also for everyone around him or her.”

Disability, said Sen Shiri, was often linked to poverty.

“This is because the chance to gain valuable skills empowers the disabled to lead meaningful lives while  at the same time enhancing the social and economic welfare of their family and community,” she said.

She donated five sewing machines, soccer and netball kits to the school to be used by disabled children.

Her remarks come soon after a call by University of Zimbabwe vice-chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura to introduce free education for people living with disabilities from primary to tertiary level.

It is estimated 98 percent of children with physical or mental impairment in developing countries do not go to school.

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