Disabled people’s Organization commonly known as DPOs are formed and managed by persons with disabilities themselves. Traditionally DPOs devote themselves to lobby for human rights, self-representation and ensuring that issues affecting them are addressed effectively in developing countries and in Africa in particular.

DPOs are more involved in public education and sensitization about the problems and needs of disabled people, and in initiating and participating in different aspects of rehabilitation interventions. In some of these countries, apart from the departments and ministries responsible for social affairs, it is the DPOs which are actively involved in rehabilitation interventions. DPOs have certain areas of expertise which can be of great use to CBR programmes and it’s a fact that Disabled persons can express their problems better than anyone else. They can also function as militants, lobbying for other disabled persons.

They can promote effective self-help groups for experience sharing and motivating others. They can mobilise communities and exert influence on decision makers and professionals, to enhance the participation of disabled people in society. DPOs can also help in research activities such as identification of the needs, problems and appropriate solutions for disabled people, organization of debates at appropriate fora to exchange ideas, and evaluation of programmes initiated to improve them further.

In Zambia we have a number of DPOs such as Zambia Federation for Disability Organizations (ZAFOD) Zambia National Federation for the Blind (ZANDB) Zambia National Association for the Deaf ( ZNAD) just to mention the few and in these Organization only Disabled people are engaged mostly in both board and management because these are Organizations referred to as Organizations of the Disabled and tomorrow I will discuss Organization for the Disabled, Stay Blessed.

In 2011 we discussed in details what was expected from the new Government in the name of Patriotic Front and our advice was timely on how the Government should address the plight of persons with disabilities more especially that PF outlined clearly in its 2011 to 2016 Party manifesto how they planned to addressed the plight of persons with disabilities in Zambia.

Pastor Dennis is a Chaplain in South African Police Services and Senior Pastor who is a disability rights activist

Centre for Disability Development Research Law and Policy a Regional governance and human right NGO is concern with the operation of ZAPD since 2011 under the leadership of Patriotic Front as a Party in Government. Both management and the Board of ZAPD has failed persons with Disabilities in Zambia despite the good political will shown by Patriotic Front in both 2011 to 2016 Party manifesto and 2016 to 2021 Party manifesto which clearly outline the vision of PF and the good intension addressing challenges persons with Disabilities are facing under the able leadership of his Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu the President of the Republic of Zambia.

In both commitments outlined in Party manifestos creation of employments and improved service delivery to persons with disabilities through establishing of district rehabilitation and habitation centres was at the centre stage of PF Government but seven years down the line nothing has happened. As a centre we are still asking the President to remove disability functions from the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare which has failed to provide leadership for 30 years as we do not expect any miracle in the remaining three years before 2021 general elections, This has been our call and we shall continue because it’s a standard internationally because disability is no longer a social issue but a development agenda.

PF Government must understand that Zambia Agency for Persons with Disability is not a Disability NGO or a Disabled People’s Organization commonly referred to as DPO but a Government agency charged with responsibility to coordinator disability functions on behalf of Government and the people of Zambia in line with its mandated provided under disability Act number 6 of 2012. The Continued treating Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities as a DPO has taken the agency back to the time of Zambia Council for the Handicapped whose administration was rejected by cooperating partners and unless Government urgently review the performance of ZAPD now otherwise Persons with Disabilities will continue begging in the streets and centres created to provide sheltered employments for them remain white elephant.

If persons with Disabilities expect anything good from ZAPD under the leadership of acting Director General Ms. Julien Mwape they will soon be shocked because she has clearly indicated to us that Zambian disabled people are lazy and what is needed for them is Queen Elizabeth Poor Laws the historical Precedents of Tax-Supported Relief for the Poor which means to her disabled people are poor who only need charity and this law will make it possible for local authorities to force individuals and families to leave a town and return to their home parish if they became dependent. As far as ZAPD is concerned under the current leadership disabled people must be forced to leave towns because they are dependents of ZAPD which clearly shows that they have failed to manage the agency.

As a centre we are further asking for his Excellency the President Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu to appoint a commission of injury to look into the operation of ZAPD and how sheltered employment can be revisited in line with the vision of Patriotic Front Party manifesto and the commission compromise of disability experts. The PF Government has the ability to address challenges persons with disabilities are facing because the President has the heart for the Disabled, The first lady has a passion for persons with Disabilities and Secretary General Hon Davies Mwila has been a strong voice for persons with disabilities making this Government unique and disability friendly.

The commission will allow Zambians and disability stakeholders to distinguish the difference between a Government disability agency and a disabled people’s Organization in terms of leadership and service provision. As a centre we followed with keen interest implementation of Patriotic Front Party manifesto particularly disability chapters which will hope to use as a measure of PF in Government performance in 2021 and beyond.

Professor Charles Mwape (PhD)

Disability Policy Analyst for Africa Centre for Disability Development Research Law and Policy