People with disabilities push for inclusiveness

People with disabilities under Lilongwe Disability Citizen Forum have asked government to include them in many programmes to ensure the country achieves aspirations outlined in the Malawi 2063 (MW2063) goals.

Speaking on Tuesday in Area 24 in Lilongwe on the sidelines of a meeting organised by National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust, the group’s chairperson Gerald Nankhwende said they are being sidelined on loans and participation in economic activities.

He said: “People with disabilities have various skills that if they are supported with necessary resources such as finances to start business, they can help the country to attain the MW2063. How can we attain the MW2063 if some people are sidelined?

“Let government promote inclusiveness in this drive of self-reliance.”

Nankhwende also complained that organisations such as Agriculture Commercialisation have not been meeting them to offer guidance on how they can form cooperatives.

Another member of the group, Fanuel Kanyoni, said they are not considered for membership in joint ventures.

“This is why most of us just stay idle, but for how long? Government should consider at least including people with disabilities as a condition for groups to access loans and grants in their cooperatives,” he said.

But in response, Lilongwe Urban Nice civic education officer Hajira Ali encouraged the group to continue engaging different stakeholders for inclusion.

“The group’s concerns are genuine and this is good because it demonstrates they have embraced mindset change, which is critical to achieving MW2063,” she said.

Nice signed an agreement with National Planning Commission to orient communities on mindset change to achieve MW2063, the country’s long-term development strategy.