BRITISH DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER DAVID PEARCE HAS CHARGED THAT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES TO FULFILL THEIR ELECTORAL RIGHTS AS ANY OTHER CITIZEN.
MR PEARCE SAYS ONE OF THE LESSONS FROM THE PAST ELECTIONS IS THAT THERE ARE OFTEN BARRIERS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WITHIN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.
HE SAYS PERSONS WITH DISABILITY FAIL TO ACCESS THE POLLING STATIONS DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF RAMPS AND BOOTHS THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE THE WHEELCHAIR BOUND.
MR PEARCE WAS SPEAKING DURING THE LAUNCH OF THE PROJECT FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION OF DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS IN ZAMBIA’S ELECTORAL PROCESS IN GENERAL AND IN THE 2011 TRIPARTITE ELECTIONS IN PARTICULAR BY FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TODAY.
AND SPEAKING AT THE SAME FUNCTION FODEP PRESIDENT DR ALEX NG’OMA INDICATED THAT THE PROJECT WILL BE ROLLED OUT IN LUSAKA AND WESTERN PROVINCES FOR NOW DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.
HE ADDED THAT ZAMBIA ALWAYS COLLECTS INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS DURING THE NATIONAL CENSUS, HOWEVER, NOT MUCH HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THE NEED TO USE SUCH INFORMATION TO BETTER THE SITUATION IN NATIONAL AFFAIRS ESPECIALLY THEIR ENHANCED INVOLVEMENT IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPUTY MINISTER, ACTING PERMANENT SECRETARY LAMECK KANYUKWA POINTED OUT THAT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE MOSTLY MARGINALIZED AND LACK FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS.
###########
No comments:
Post a Comment