ZAFOD calls for partnership with Govt

WE need to partner with the Government to manage national data on citizens with disabilities for easy support, Zambia Federation of Disabilities Organization (ZAFOD) Programs and Advocacy Manager Misheck Mutamba has said.

Speaking to The Scoop, Mr. Mutamba said the organization was planning to engage Members of Parliament (MPS) and councillors to make it easy for the organization and the Government to manage national data of citizens with disabilities.

“The national data of citizens with disabilities will help the Government in the provision of support and services to persons with disabilities who might need bursaries and social cash transfer among other services,” Mr. Mutamba said.

He said citizens with disabilities should not be discouraged through the narrative that they were incapable of achieving anything.

He said the organization also had an option of involving the Government officials such as MPs and councillors.

“The challenge we have as ZAFOD and our partners is to have credible data that is frequently updated as it requires resources to maintain the database and to update it frequently. We are looking for a partner who we can focus on managing national data of people with disabilities.

“We are looking at an option of using them because when you narrow it down to that level, it will make work easier. The Member of Parliament for Mbabala Constituency in Choma District informed us that the constituency has complete, credible data on citizens with disabilities in his constituency and it is helping significantly in provision of support and services to those citizens,” he said.

He said with credible data, the organization was able to know and identify the citizens who needed bursaries, grants, devices, social cash transfer schemes, loans among other services.

“At the moment it is difficult for the organization to identify the number of citizens in Zambia that have accessed social services and how many have benefited from the constituency development fund (CDF). So, if we could use structures like constituencies, it will be easy for us to manage the needed information because citizens with disabilities are only 10 percent of the total population.

“We believe at ward and constituency level, it will become easy for us as a country to manage information on citizens with disabilities. Therefore, if we partner with the Government on managing national data on citizens with disabilities, we manage to provide them with the required support,” he said.