Comments on: Plight of the disabled needs attention in Zimbabwe

By: tafadzwa mutsambiwa

tafadzwa mutsambiwa — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:31:30 +0000

i applaud you for exposing such critical issues.firstly,extracting her uterus would ammount to violation of her human and reproductive rights.i believe the real problem lies with our social service provider and despite her disability,she should not be robbed off the very essence of her femininity.this story also exposes the need to mainstream issues relating to the disabled especially in the new constitution.i hope this story has probed responsible institutions and society at large that caring for the disabled is a collective responsibility .

By: Fungai Machirori

Fungai Machirori — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:47:39 +0000

Natasha, that is indeed a serious issue. Like you say, is taking out this girl’s uterus tantamount top robbing here of her sexual and reproductive health rights OR actually protecting her from potential abuse. Some people in this world really suffer and you realise just how blessed you are.

But you have done your bit girl. You, as a sensitive journalist, have chosen not sensationalise this issue but to humanise it, make it real and accessible and meaningful. And that is your role – to spread the word and through your voice and words, get the world to know and take action.

More power

By: Natasha

Natasha — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:27:41 +0000

Those are all good questions, Henry thank you. The journalists attending this workshop have pursued the disability story, I understand it has appeared on ZTV on news at 8. In my discussions with some representatives from humanitarian assistance organizations, they cite that as in every sector, there are some people who just miss out on aid intended to benefit them for a number of reasons ranging from corruption to lack of sufficient resources. It is up to the responsible ministry to reign in all the disability organizations in working together towards meaningful assistance of this vulnerable population. However, if the ministries themselves are dysfunctional and a time when political preoccupation occupies the highest level of the pecking order of national priorities – it is highly likely that things will remain like this for longer than we can handle. However the million dollar question is, what can and should we do as a national society to protect those of our own who cannot stand p for themselves? I imagine making meaningful demands and contributions into the constitution is one ‘small’ way?

Natasha

By: Henry Masaya

Henry Masaya — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:07:09 +0000

We have so many disability organisations in the country which receive millions of dollars annually. has some one tried to find out what really has been their impact on the community with disablities or tried to find out the proportion of the aid vis a vis administrative expenses, meetings etc that benefit these people with disabilities. It is without question that quite a lot of administrators of these organisations derive a healthy livelihood but what about the people they are supposed to save.

Has some one tried to find out as well what the endless meetings on disability have really achieved.

What about our legislators? Do they really care about disability or do they really know what the situation in the country is. We have seen and witnessed the scaling up of interventions and their impacts in other areas eg women, children and or even war veterans. What about people with disablities? Could it also be because most of the organisations are headed by people with disabilities and that we have no legislators or people of influence with disablities?