Dr. James Zulu appointed National Coordinator for CDDRLP Zambia Office

Disabled people’s Organization commonly known as DPOs are formed and managed by persons with disabilities themselves. Traditionally DPOs devote themselves to lobby for human rights, self-representation and ensuring that issues affecting them are addressed effectively in developing countries and in Africa in particular.

DPOs are more involved in public education and sensitization about the problems and needs of disabled people, and in initiating and participating in different aspects of rehabilitation interventions. In some of these countries, apart from the departments and ministries responsible for social affairs, it is the DPOs which are actively involved in rehabilitation interventions. DPOs have certain areas of expertise which can be of great use to CBR programmes and it’s a fact that Disabled persons can express their problems better than anyone else. They can also function as militants, lobbying for other disabled persons.

They can promote effective self-help groups for experience sharing and motivating others. They can mobilise communities and exert influence on decision makers and professionals, to enhance the participation of disabled people in society. DPOs can also help in research activities such as identification of the needs, problems and appropriate solutions for disabled people, organization of debates at appropriate fora to exchange ideas, and evaluation of programmes initiated to improve them further.

In Zambia we have a number of DPOs such as Zambia Federation for Disability Organizations (ZAFOD) Zambia National Federation for the Blind (ZANDB) Zambia National Association for the Deaf ( ZNAD) just to mention the few and in these Organization only Disabled people are engaged mostly in both board and management because these are Organizations referred to as Organizations of the Disabled and tomorrow I will discuss Organization for the Disabled, Stay Blessed.

In 2011 we discussed in details what was expected from the new Government in the name of Patriotic Front and our advice was timely on how the Government should address the plight of persons with disabilities more especially that PF outlined clearly in its 2011 to 2016 Party manifesto how they planned to addressed the plight of persons with disabilities in Zambia.

Centre for Disability Development Research Law and Policy a Regional governance and Human right NGO is disappointed with the statement issued by UPND leader during let the people talk on Radio Phoenix in which he justified the self-defense principle as a constitution right.

President Hakainde statement is a danger to democracy and the rule of law which Zambia embarked on since 1990 and in the interest of peace and promotion of non-violence campaign we are asking the UPND leader to withdraw that statement. While other Zambians may use the self-defense principle to protect themselves, persons with disabilities, children and women do not have the capacity to protect themselves in times of violence but can be protected by good political leadership.

UPND as Government in waiting must demonstrate leadership to Zambians that the Party and its leadership is capable of uniting the Nation and maintain the peace which Zambia has been known for in Africa. The unity President Hikande Hichilema and President Edgar Chagwa Lungu demonstrated during the funeral of the late Daniel Munkombwe opened the window of hope in the hearts of Zambians therefore we call upon the UPND leader to show leadership by condemning violence in all forms and size for the sake of the Nation.

As a centre we appeal to Zambians to ignore the call to use the self-defense because what brings the people of Zambia together is Zambia and not political affiliations and it’s important to accept that Zambia shall never again be a one Party participatory democracy but multi-Party democracy with one ruling Party at a time . In 2016 Zambian people voted for His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu as President and Patriotic Front until 2021 and it’s a duty of all Zambians to support the leadership and the administration of the Party in Government so that they can deliver to the Zambian people in line with campaign promises of 2016.

Professor Charles Mwape (PhD)

Disability Policy Analyst for Africa

Centre for Disability Development Research Law and Policy