News / National
Tsvangirai calls on Zimbabweans to assist people living with disabilities
13 Dec 2011 at 16:52hrs | Views
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai hands over a wheel chair to Mr Saul Manenji in Harare
MDC-T leader, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday called upon Zimbabweans to assist people living with disabilities for them to make maximum use of their abilities.
He was speaking at Emerald Hill School for the Deaf where he handed goods worth more than US$20 000 that were donated to charity organisations by some well wishers.
"We must always remember that when an institution like Emerald Hill is looking after the disabled we must make a contribution," he said.
"I am sure that their needs are not limited.
"I have been honoured and humbled to be the ambassador for people living with disabilities."
PM Tsvangirai said there were a lot of disabled people in different parts of the country who needed assistance.
The acting director general of the Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled, Mr Robert Mkozho said people living with disabilities needed to be empowered.
He said Government programmes should focus on social assistance instead of providing food.
"People with disabilities should be empowered to work for themselves and support their families," said Mr Mkozho.
"If you help us by empowering us, you will not see us on the streets.
"A disabled person is just like anyone else."
Mr Mkozho said Zimbabwe must ratify the UN Convention on People Living with Disabilities.
He said resources should be channelled towards ensuring that provisions of the Disability Act are implemented.
Companies and organisations that donated goods included Kingdom Bank, CBZ Bank and the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society.
The goods donated were wheel chairs, blankets and food.
Some of the organisations that received the goods were Jairos Jiri Zvishavane, Jairos Jiri Gwanda, Zimcare Trust, Zambuko, Emerald Hill School of the Deaf and Ngomahuru Hospital.
He was speaking at Emerald Hill School for the Deaf where he handed goods worth more than US$20 000 that were donated to charity organisations by some well wishers.
"We must always remember that when an institution like Emerald Hill is looking after the disabled we must make a contribution," he said.
"I am sure that their needs are not limited.
"I have been honoured and humbled to be the ambassador for people living with disabilities."
PM Tsvangirai said there were a lot of disabled people in different parts of the country who needed assistance.
The acting director general of the Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled, Mr Robert Mkozho said people living with disabilities needed to be empowered.
He said Government programmes should focus on social assistance instead of providing food.
"If you help us by empowering us, you will not see us on the streets.
"A disabled person is just like anyone else."
Mr Mkozho said Zimbabwe must ratify the UN Convention on People Living with Disabilities.
He said resources should be channelled towards ensuring that provisions of the Disability Act are implemented.
Companies and organisations that donated goods included Kingdom Bank, CBZ Bank and the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society.
The goods donated were wheel chairs, blankets and food.
Some of the organisations that received the goods were Jairos Jiri Zvishavane, Jairos Jiri Gwanda, Zimcare Trust, Zambuko, Emerald Hill School of the Deaf and Ngomahuru Hospital.
Source - TH
