As I write from the discomfort of ghetto, I cannot help but ponder on the political events which have been happening in our country. We are a country that seems to have stopped anything productive and we now talk politics, think politics, dream politics and it is only when we realise that there is no food on the table that we are brought back to the reality that we can’t eat politics. At that moment we begin to curse politicians and politics. Surely something in our culture must change mustn’t it? So allow me to talk politics and its intersection with my activism.
I was alerted to the news that the former Vice-President was going to address a press conference. These conferences are obviously for big people and journalists so I never imagined I would have anything that would catch my attention. I tried to follow the events via online updates from both the Newsday and Herald newspapers but I still did not get anything catchy. My twitter and Facebook feeds were inundated by friends expressing their scepticism, outrage and a few admirations for the existence of the Zimbabwe People First party. It wasn’t until a friend gave me the full audio of Mrs Mujuru’s speech that I noticed something which most people have overlooked. Mrs Mujuru in her speech mentioned disability twice. First, she indicated that she and her party intend to build a Zimbabwe enjoyed by everyone regardless of various things first of which was disability. Secondly, towards the end of her presentation, she also advised that focus should be on real issues including doing something for “comrades who have no limbs”.
I am aware, as a disability rights activist that both Zanu PF and MDC T have structures to deal with disability and persons with disabilities represented in the polity bureau and National Executive Councils respectively. However, I know that the leaders of those parties have stopped talking about disability long ago. This is so sad in a country where persons with disabilities who may constitute about fifteen percent continue to be systematically discriminated against. It is therefore in this light that I shall not be drawn into the debate of the credibility of the Zimbabwe People First as a viable opposition party. Instead, I urge Zanu and MDC to pluck a leaf from what happened today. Secondly, to the Zimbabwe People First, let me unequivocally state that persons with disabilities are so tired of hearing people talking about them and talking for them. We hope as you build your structures, you will also consider persons with disabilities as rights holders who must be able to talk for themselves so that the prevailing narrative where persons with disabilities are only treated as vulnerable objects of protective charity can be changed.
Those are my thoughts and I am sticking to them. For any further advice, I will charge consultancy fees
