Federation of Disability Organisations in Malawi (Fedoma) on Saturday met members of parliament (MPs), councillors and traditional leaders from Balaka and Machinga districts to track the social contract in inclusive service delivery which the groups signed.
Speaking in an interview after the meeting in Machinga, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chamba of Machinga said currently persons with disabilities in his area are included in Local Development Fund (LDF) activities because traditional leaders, MPs and councillors, have realised that they are capable of contributing to national development.
“In the past, people with disabilities were facing a lot of stigma because they were not being included. With the coming of the project, I told area development committees, group village heads and village heads that before short-listing beneficiaries of the public works programme or social cash transfer, priority should be given to persons with disabilities.
“Even those that are visually impaired should be included in public works so that at the end of the day they are able to get something for themselves,” said Chamba.
Yaumi Mpaweni, MP for Balaka Central East (United Democratic Front-UDF), said there is notable progress in his constituency because leaders are ensuring that persons with disabilities are included in LDF projects.
