As a centre we had hope that PF in Government shall be the answer to challenges persons with disabilities are facing coupled with what the President elect said during inaugural speech in parliament. On Tuesday this week i was in Cairo road and over heard people talking about the plight of persons with disabilities and one of them said these people only need to be institutionalised and Government provide them with free food and accommodation because they can’t do anything.

Honestly i was touched more especially that both guys looked to be educated and that centre of the discussion was on disability instead of the ability because it is ability that makes people to think positive about persons with disabilities and support them. It is also the ability that makes society to see a person before a disability.

Yes we can talk about the plight of persons with disabilities but our focus should be ability so that we think of real rehabilitation and creation of sheltered employment for them and not free help which has not helped for many years. Today on let the people talk on radio Phoenix Dr. Chishimba Kambwiri and NDC candidate for Lusaka Mayor moved my spirit on how well they discussed the plight of persons with disabilities following a call from a Blind person and I hope and pray that Zambian politicians will put disability issues as part of each and every campaign message.

Personally any politician with real disability program will have my full support and that of the people I work in the area of disability. My appeal to Zambian politicians is that include disability issues in your Party manifesto so that we can address the plight of persons with disabilities together.

The author is a Disability policy Analyst for Africa and Inclusive Development Advisor

for Centre for Disability Development Research, Law and Policy, Johannesburg

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