THE Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) in North-Western Province says there is need to include issues of disabilities in all developmental aspects.
In an interview with ZANIS, ZAPD Provincial Coordinator Simona Mubiana said it is ZAPD’s desire to see to it that each Organisation mainstreams disability issues just as it has been done on issues to do with gender.
“We would love to see a situation where persons with disabilities are also taking the lead in terms of being leaders in various positions. This will become an inspiration to other persons with disabilities, especially the children,” Mr Mubiana said.
Mr Mubiana stated that this year’s theme for international day for persons with disabilities is timely as it highlights the importance of putting persons with disabilities in leadership positions.
“This year’s theme has a great message because it talks about the leadership of persons with disabilities and the theme is all about amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future,” Mr Mubiana said.
The Provincial Coordinator said when leadership positions become inclusive it will give hope to those parents with differently abled children and those who become disabled in old age.
“Once leadership for persons with disability is amplified it will also help those that have lost hope because of their nature of disability to go beyond their impairment and do what they want and even do better than others in society,” Mr Mubiana stated.
Meanwhile Mr Mubiana has called on all stakeholders to come on board to make the commemoration of this year’s international day of persons with disabilities in the Province a Success.
“We are just appealing to everyone out there to ensure that they give us the much needed support so that the international Day for persons with disabilities here in North-Western Province becomes a successful story,” he said.
He said they wish to see the same support given to other international commemorations being given to them as well.
“It’s not only issues of finance but they are also issues in relation to material support, if you look at most persons with disabilities what they need is assistive devices,” Mr Mubiana said.
This year’s International Day of persons with disabilities, which falls on 3rd December, is being commemorated under the theme “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future”.
