So many attempts have been made world wide especially during the past six decades to improve the living standard of the disabled people. These include various forms of advocacy awareness campaigns and legislations aimed at changing the public perception that view disability on negative terms. This is because of the fact that there is no single nation all over the world whose disabled community has reached an equal-opportunity-status with their non disabled fellow citizens. Yes accessibility to public social services such as employment, education, transport and housing is generally better for disabled persons in Europe and North America than it is in developing countries.
However, researched and documented evidence show that disabled people the world over, are discriminated regardless of where they found or their race although the discrimination is worse in developing countries. Discrimination on disability is a colourless sin which appear to be difficult to eradicate. Disability issues are so universal such that even the regional groups like Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the United Nations (UN) have been doing their part in highlighting the plight of the disabled people. But there is a great difference between highlighting a plight and doing something to put an end to the particular plight. What worries disabled persons most especially in developing countries like Zimbabwe; is that there has been a lot of nice talk but less positive action in terms of practically dealing with disability issues. In pursuance of the goal of improving the lives of disabled, the United Nations came up with twenty-two (themes) articles of Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for persons with disabilities. The standard rules were introduced by the UN over twenty years ago. All these standard rules are not legally binding for any nation but only act as a practical benchmark of non discriminatory society. The fact that these UN standard rules on the equalization of opportunities are not legally binding is a serious loophole that puts the lives of disabled people at risk of corrupt and uncaring governments particularly in Africa. Ironically nearly all nations including Zimbabwe have violated these international standard rules in one way or another. As you read this article; these violations are being perpetrated with impunity left, centre and right internationally. It is a bit pleasing though to note that, countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Japan and the United Kingdom are some of the few states that have visibly done better on disabled persons rights. This does not mean that they have done! No.
One of the best methods used by uncaring governments is to make sure that the disabled community is not made aware of the existence of these UN standard rules. Fortunately in Zimbabwe, the UN standard rules are known by almost all those who are active in disability work, but persuading the Zimbabwe government to implement them has been falling on deaf ears. Yet under normal circumstances, there is no need to persuade a peoples government to implement these standard rules, but a simply reminder would be enough for government to take necessary steps for the benefit of persons with disabilities. In Zimbabwe, there are some disability rights activists who know all the provisions of the twenty-two UN standard rules by heart!
To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of the Universal declaration of Human Rights, an exposure document was produced by five international disability organizations. These are: Disabled Peoples International, Inclusion International, World Blind Union, World Federation of the Deaf and World Psychiatric Users Federation. For the benefit of the public it is important to write about these twenty two standard rules and show how countries of the world have dismally failed in their actions or lack of it; to comply with these standard rules with special focus on our beloved motherland Zimbabwe.
In Zimbabwe, in addition to these much publicized UN standard rules we have the legislation called the Disabled Persons Act, DPA. As a disabled person myself, I was one of the people who became excited when the DPA was enacted by parliament. As of today; the majority of disabled people in this country believe that the DPA, is one of the useless pieces of legislation ever enacted by the countrys parliament. Some however do not agree with this view. This piece of legislation was enacted in 1992; twelve years after the country attained its independence! It is generally agreed that at least 10% of the total population of Zimbabwe consists of persons with various forms of disabilities. While it is estimated that the general unemployment rate in Zimbabwe is at least 80%, it is estimated that the unemployment rate for the disabled community is not less than 99,9 %! The lack of a political will by government was long identified to be at the heart of lack implementation of the provisions of the Disabled Persons Act. As a result, many disabled people in Zimbabwe do not believe that the enactment of the Disabled Persons Act brought any positive change in their lives. Now the question in the minds of many disabled people is: Will the new constitution that is being crafted change anything in as far as disability and development is concerned? But at present; life goes on as usually with or without the Disabled Persons Act nobody cares. Disabled people both young and old remain to be considered as object of charity.
We must not pretend as if we do not know that, in Zimbabwe disabled people have suffered worse oppression and discrimination during the last ten years as a result of the economic meltdown and political violence. Starvation also claimed its victims among the disabled persons. While political violence must have gone down during the last twelve months, starvation continues to take its tall among disabled persons. International Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that provide food aid to Zimbabweans have also been changing goal posts in as far as qualification to receive food allocation is concerned. These goal posts have left many disabled people failing to access food aid. But who cares? Yes it is not a secret that many disabled people died in cross fire during the political violence simply because they could not run away or defend themselves. Unfortunately there has never been an attempt; even by civic organizations to document statistics of disabled people who have been directly affected by the political violence. The reason is not difficult to find; it is because disability issues has never been taken serious, especially in developing world. On the other hand; many innocent people became disabled as a result of political violence. But how many?
Now let us look at the 22 articles of UN standard rules and the nature of their violations word wide according to the exposure document:
Article one says: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article two reads: Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Article three says: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Examples of violations in Zimbabwe: All the provisions of the above three articles have never been taken serious or respected in Zimbabwe hence no implementation. Rhetoric and empty promises by government on disability issues has been the order of the day since independence in 1980. Disability issues are always accorded theoretical priority only with little or no action. The big question begging for an answer is: When will disability issues be taken serious in Zimbabwe?
Surprisingly even the much celebrated inclusive government seems to have no interest in disability and development agenda. The annual budget allocated by the inclusive government to cater for disability services for the financial year ending December 2010 is less than two hundred thousand united States dollars ($200 000). This amount is expected to cover the essential basic needs for all disabled people in Zimbabwe both young and adult for the whole year. The plain truth is that this amount is not even enough to cater for the essential requirements of the disabled persons for a single month.
Editors note: Watson Khupe is a Disability Activist and Researcher who lives and works in Bulawayo.
TO BE CONTINUED
Post published in: Politics