Disabled persons in Arusha Region, who held a meeting in the city recently, have called for the establishment of special seat to represent them in the Parliament.
Parliament of Tanzania
As far as they are concerned, they would have also liked to campaign and get elected like any other politician, but were being stigmatized by some cultures in the country that believe it was bad omen to choose a disabled person to lead or preside over anything.
Speaking in Arusha, over the weekend, they stated that the draft for the new constitution must include a section which calls for their special representation at the National Assembly adding that it was the only way that their grievances could be taken more seriously.
The Executive Director for Human Rights and Economic Development for Disabled Persons (HREDP), Mr David Nyendo, said here that the call for parliamentary representation was unanimously agreed by all respondents in Arusha-Urban, Arusha-Rural and Meru districts.
Apparently, while other parliament buildings in various countries have specially allocated seats for disabled people, in Tanzania that is never the case and despite their various handicaps, the disabled people in the country must either campaign in respective constitutions or be left out altogether.
“Being physically challenged to us is not necessarily a problem, but it becomes a ‘disability’ when the society sidelines you because of how you are,” stated Mr Nyendo, pointing out that in some societies, children who are born with physical or mental disabilities used to be killed or taken out into the wilderness and left to die on their own.
Due to that therefore, the only way their group could secure representation in Parliament was through specially allocated slots in the National Assembly.
He lauded President Kikwete’s move a few years ago when he appointed a lady with albinism as special seats MP.
Also, the General Secretary for the Arusha Chapter of the Association for Disabled Persons Tanzania Arusha Region, Eunice Urassa called for free provision of health services and education to the disabled people and while at that, urban transportation should also place some considerations to them as well.
By EVERSHANY SWAY, Tanzania Daily News
