People with disabilities are one of the most marginalised groups in any society.
Although the government has formulated policies and legislation to empower these individuals, there is a need to help them benefit the broader economy too.
The key mandate of the National Disability Council of Namibia is to improve the lives of people with disabilities and create a barrier-free society for the approximately 100 000 people in Namibia with disabilities. As it stands, these individuals are left to fend for themselves and it is hard for them to make a living, besides some who receive a monthly disability grant of N$250. People with disabilities make up an estimated 10% of the Namibian population, with 90% of them unemployed.
Chairperson of the National Federation for People with Disabilities in Namibia, Matheus Hashoongo expressed their challenges are common and are known by many people. He mentioned lack of financial support and start-up capital is a serious impediment to people with disabilities.
“We are denied opportunities. People with disabilities lack training and education on how to do business. There are calls for youth entrepreneurs and women for training opportunities by the government, but many entities don’t find it suitable for persons with disabilities to be trained to be independent and economically wise,” he remarked.
Another issue is the inaccessibility of timely information.
He charged their office is always approached late and they lose out on financial opportunities enjoyed by other Namibians.
Hashoongo said they also don’t have self-representation at board levels both at public and private institutions.
“We are not represented in some of the decision-making bodies. Institutions do not have disability policies. We are not considered for available training opportunities,” he bemoaned.
As a federation, Hashoongo vowed they continue to fight and advocate for inclusivity in all levels of government and the private sector.
According to him, the federation had training with the City of Windhoek where people with disabilities were trained on how to become entrepreneurs in agriculture.
Equally, he noted the federation is planning to host a disability expo from 4-5 November 2022 with the aim to uplift, train, and empower people with disabilities to be part of the mainstream economy.
He pointed out there are a lot of people with disabilities who are gifted in various skills such as arts and crafts.
The government has formulated policies and legislations such as the Affirmative Action Act and the National Disability Council Act to empower people with disabilities and for their inclusion in the national developmental agendas.
However, there is a need for Namibia to do more to support people living with disabilities who want to run their own businesses.
In April this year, President Hage Geingob announced the value of the government grant to children with disability will be increased. The grant, which is currently at N$250 per month, will be increased to N$1 300 per month, effective from the 2023 financial year.
During the expo, Hashoongo pledged the federation will empower entrepreneurs with disabilities to expose their intentions and that they are willing to partake in the mainstream economy.
The federation called on the government to include people with disabilities whenever they are reviewing national policies to break the barriers faced by these persons.
“We need to break that barrier. We need to do more as a collective to ensure every company to be registered will be obligated to comply with social responsibilities for people with disabilities. Otherwise, without that, people with disabilities will continue to suffer, be sidelined, and be neglected. We want to be part of the activities contributing to our economy,” he said.
–anakale@nepc.com.na