People with Albinism (PwA) have been urged to grab opportunities that come their way and desist from waiting to be charity cases if they are to be progressive in life.
This came out during the International Albinism Awareness Day Commemorations today in Harare.
Speaking to 263Chat, Alive Albinism Initiative Zimbabwe President Gwen Mushonga said PwA should step up and include themselves community programs, political and economic sphere and not wait for people to bring opportunities to the table.
“We are here today telling persons with albinism to work hard running under the theme ‘shining your light as an empowered community’ for us to shine our light we have to include ourselves in community programs, political parties, we don’t have to wait for people to come to us,
“We have to go to whatever is happening and take our rightful place there, people should see and learn from us, they should see that we are everywhere,” said Mushonga.
The Secretary-General of the same initiative Brian Sithole echoed the same sentiments with Mushonga saying there are many opportunities that PwA should take advantage of.
He encouraged people to go to school, be educated and to rise to the potential they are sitting on.
Deaf Zimbabwe Trust Executive Director Barbrah Nyangairi said her organization is in solidarity with the albinism community because the deaf community faces the same challenges.
“As Deaf Zimbabwe Trust we are in solidarity with the albinism community because we face the same challenges and barriers with access to education but my encouragement is that you don’t wait for things to happen, you make things happen. Ask the policymakers, write to them, talk to them, look for them until you have an answer,
“Zimbabwe has an inclusive education policy and that is the way in which we will get a quality education for children with disabilities in this country,” expressed Nyangairi.
According to a Human Rights Blog, Albinism is still profoundly misunderstood, socially and medically. The physical appearance of persons with albinism is often the object of erroneous beliefs and myths influenced by superstition, which foster their marginalization and social exclusion. This leads to various forms of stigma and discrimination.
The right to freedom from discrimination requires States to adopt comprehensive strategies to ensure that persons with albinism are afforded equal protection under the law and in practice.
