About 300 people with disabilities joined a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) rally at White City in Bulawayo on Sunday to show that, despite their various impairments, disability is not the ‘biggest’ impediment to political involvement.
CCC proportional representation candidate for council, Sukulohle Mhlanga, said that despite the right to participation, few persons with disabilities have access to public decision-making structures, especially as the country heads into the national elections.
“There has been low participation of persons with disabilities in public affairs,” Mhlanga said. “Even though political parties claim to support diversity, the persistent negative attitudes around the capabilities of persons with different impairments continue to be the greatest barrier to political participation. But our presence here at White City shows the contrary.”
Mhlanga said that persons with disabilities want “change” and will vote on August 23, 2023.
“I will definitely vote for Nelson Chamisa,” she said. “I mobilised people that came here, some even came here without any organised transport but found their way here. We are here and we like CCC because it has an element of disability inclusion in its policies.”
Mhlanga said that it is important for society to come to people with disabilities to understand their challenges and issues.
“This will help to push start people with disabilities to be optimistic about politics and activism,” she said.
After Chamisa had presented his speech, members of the disabled community received hampers from the opposition party.
