Kikwete wants constitution to protect people with disability

President Jakaya Kikwete addresses nation from Dar es Salaam yesterday at climax of celebrations to mark World Day for People with Disability.

President Jakaya Kikwete has called for incorporation of a section in the new constitution guaranteeing representation of people with disabilities in decision making bodies, including the National Assembly.

The president made the call in Dar es Salaam yesterday in his speech to mark the International Day for People With Disabilities (IDPWD) whose theme this year is: “Break barriers, open doors: for an inclusive society for all."


“There is no condition that prohibits people with disability to vie for the post at the level of the local government such as ward councilors and chairperson…but in the new constitution the authorities should ensure they address the issue of representation of people with physical challenge,” President Kikwete said, adding that CCM has nominated legislators to represent people with disability in the Parliament.

The president said the IDPWD reminds people on the need to continue taking actions that draw people with disability closer to society in all areas of national endeavour.

He said their handicraft exhibitions have proved that disability is not inability and is not a barrier for them to participate in development activities.

He called on the Surface and Marine Transport Authority (Sumatra) and other transportation authorities to enforce rules and regulations to remove infrastructural hurdles that people with disability face.

Meanwhile the president called for an end to prejudices against people with disability and challenged them to pursue excellence in the education, telling them: “In our country, at least 10 per cent of individuals are people with disabilities. Their rights are the same as those of any other individual.” 

Earlier the Tanzania Federation of Disable Peoples’ Organisation (SHIVYAWATA) chairperson Lupi Maswanya speaking on behalf of PWD said the group lacked representatives in decision making organs from tertiary level to the central government.

She said the situation had contributed to their demands not being taken seriously, especially when directed to decision making bodies. 

Maswanya said the subsidy provided to the associations of people with disability, was not enough and not delivered on time.

“We need to have the National Council of Counseling for people with disability in order to efficiently implement the People with Disability Act adopted in July 2010,” he said.

She appealed to the government to consider their rights of being informed by directing inclusion of sign experts to translate news clips (especially on Television stations) to help people with hearing disability to understand the information being aired.

Health and Social Welfare Minister Dr Hussein Mwinyi, urged PWD to ensure the youth attend school so as to actively participate in the national economy.

According to Dr Mwinyi, the government has allocated a budget for the maintenance of existing colleges for people with disabilities during the 2013/14 financial year.

The centres are located in Mtapika in Mtwara and Yombo in Dar es Salaam. 
In Tanzania the International Day of People with Disability has been marked since 2003.

A person’s disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental, or some combination of these. A disability may be present from birth or occur during a person's lifetime.