The Namibian Constitution explicitly recognizes the inalienable human rights and freedoms of all its citizens, and by implication this must include disabled Namibians. The Namibian government signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 25th April 2007, and ratified the Convention, including the Optional Protocol, on 4th December, 2007.
In 1997, Government developed the National Disability Policy, which is underpinned by the social model of disability. Its overall objective is to ensure that all disabled people are able to participate in mainstream contemporary society, by providing adequate services. It endorses the principles of inclusive education, in the belief that all children with disabilities should attend mainstream schools. At least on paper, Namibia is one of the very few African countries that have a social protection programme for disabled people. The policy also recognizes the need for disabled people to be provided with sufficient employment opportunities, and provides the basis of the Affirmative Action (Employment) Act 1998, which makes provision for the establishment of vocational rehabilitation training centres.
In March, 2005 the Ministry of Health and Social Services published its National Policy for Mental Health. This was in recognition of the fact that even though there is no robust statistical data regarding the magnitude of mental illness and learning difficulties in Namibia, it is nevertheless widely acknowledged that this is an increasing problem, and that mental health services lag behind other medical services in the country. The policy recommended the development of a community-based mental health service that was decentralised and integrated within the general health service.
In 2004, a Situation Analysis on the Provision of Special Needs Education was undertaken. This recommended that a conceptual framework for special needs education be developed, with specific reference to teacher training, curriculum development and the logistics of developing a decentralised special needs education system. The policy makes explicit reference to Article 24 of the Convention, which urges signatory states to adopt the principles of inclusive education. Twelve years down the line, we still have to see the tangible results of this policy.
Government has passed several pieces of legislation that have direct relevance to disability issues. The National Disability Council Act 2004 makes provision for an advisory body to be established, mandated to provide strategic oversight on the implementation of the National Disability Policy. Notwithstanding the fact that the National Disability Council Act has ostensible wide-ranging powers, progress in this regard is minimal if none existent.
Despite these developments, the government’s understanding of disability issues is predominantly perceived in terms of welfare/charity, and not in terms of human rights. It is in this context that one understands the premise of the ill-advised statement by the Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President responsible for Disability Affairs Alexia Manombe-Ncube that disabled people begging for handouts are tarnishing the image of government.
Trivializing the plight of handicapped Namibians is uncalled for especially by a citizen who is mandated to oversee their welfare.
The 2011 census Disability Report launched recently estimates the number of Namibians with disabilities to 98 413. This figure should have soared by now. For a population as small as ours, this is a very significant figure. It is therefore unfortunate that the honourable minister responsible for these citizens wants them banished to reserves. Is it only the disabled who beg? Honourable minister, we have serious challenges, including daily crimes committed by able-bodied Namibians, and pointing fingers at the vulnerable section of our society is surely heartless. Boasting about a monthly disability grant is laughable. What do you do with N$1000 in a month? The majority of these citizens have families to feed, no roof over their heads, no medical aid, no special education facilities, and so forth. They encounter multiple levels of exclusion and discrimination, as evidenced by the statement of the minister who should know better.
Some of the many challenges they face are social stigmatization, lack of vocational training facilities and programmes, discrimination in employment, lack of facilities to support their conditions, lack of care, sexual abuse, etc.
Vocational guidance, as an organized programme to assist the disabled in choosing, securing, training and becoming successfully employed in an occupation for which their abilities qualify them, should be our primary focus, not ridiculing them at every opportune moment. A significant percentage of the disabled persons rely on vocational skills for their sustenance.
As electorates and bona fide citizens of Namibia, disabled Namibians should be given equal opportunity with the able bodied Namibians to perform work for which they are qualified, placing emphasis on the abilities and work capabilities of disabled persons and not on their disabilities. They never chose to be disabled. Why should they be targeted? Poverty is the enemy, not the disabled.