The ManicaPost
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Reporter
AS millions of Zimbabweans continue to grapple with Covid-19 and its effects, there is a constituency that seems to have become obscure.
People living with disabilities have disappeared from the streets where some used to sell airtime, vegetables and even beg for a dollar from passersby.
With the opening up of the economy to allow more sectors to operate under strict guidelines, this community has remained home.
Most cannot continue with the work they used to do because they are more at risk than others. They have no way of manoeuvring to get to where they can eke out a living.
The majority of people living with disabilities also have no access to Covid-19 information.
Early this week, First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa was in Mutare to meet people with disabilities, the elderly and war veterans.
She had an interactive session with the group.
Among other issues, the need to empower disabled people was brought to the fore.
As the world struggles to adjust to the new way of doing things, people living with disabilities are finding it even harder to adjust.
Federation of Organisations of People with Disabilities chairperson, Mr Bernard Madzivire expressed gratitude for the First Lady’s initiative to open up channels of communication between the Federation and the rest of the society.
“We are one of the most vulnerable groups during this Covid-19 period. Some of us rely on the able bodied for mobility and there is no way a person with a disability can ask the person assisting them if they are Covid-19 negative or not. Since the disabled person needs help, they will just accept whatever help they can get.
“This is why you are not seeing many of us in town. Those that can move their own wheelchairs need to touch the wheels to be able to move them. However, this is not safe since the virus can survive for 72 hours on the ground.
“Even when we wash our hands and sanitise, we still have to touch the wheels over and over again, so we are greatly exposed.
“People with disabilities need to access information on how they can live a normal life while remaining safe. We are happy that the First Lady has involved us in this discussion, we need to continue with this discourse,” said Mr Madzivire.
Mr Tendai Mazuru, who is living with a disability, also expressed his joy.
“Often we are left out when people discuss such issues. Many people make decisions without consulting us and therefore we are happy that we have been included in this important discussion. Our lives are already difficult and Covid-19 is not making it any easier. We cannot work at the moment and therefore it is a relief that the First Lady has come to our rescue,” said Mr Mazuru.
Amai Mnangagwa said sharing information on the pandemic is important as it might help save lives.
“This disease has caused untold suffering and if we do not share information, we will be doing ourselves a disservice,” she said.
The First Lady, through her Angel of Hope Foundation, donated food hampers to more than 700 beneficiaries from across the province.
