Maluta Mulibana, from the Limpopo Premier's Disability Rights and Coordination desk, has called on parents with children with disabilities not to hide them at home but to bring them to the communities, so that they can be part of rebuilding the economy.
"Living with disabilities doesn't mean one is unable. We have to get up and do things for ourselves and show the world that we are part and parcel of the rebuilding of an economy. We want people living with disabilities to empower themselves and take part in community-imitative projects to help fight poverty and unemployment," said Mulibana, who is disabled himself.
Mulibana, who was joined by the executive mayor of the Vhembe District, Dowelani Nenguda, Headmen Shadrack Nepile and Rembuluwani Nduvheni, paid a courtesy visit to the Konanani Disability Agricultural Project in Pile village in the Mutale area on Thursday, 19 November, as part of a campaign to commemorate Disability Month. The theme was "rebuilding an economy accessible to all persons with disabilities".
The chairperson of the Konanani Disability Agricultural Project, Ms Lydia Nemafhahoni, said she was over the moon to find out that the government had chosen her project, which is going from strength to strength. Nemafhahoni said Konanani Disability Agricultural Project was started in 2004 and registered in 2009, and currently had 10 permanent members who were disabled.
"Our idea was to show the communities that being disabled doesn't mean unable, and we must do away with depending on disabilities grants. We have to stand up and do things for ourselves. We started by breeding broiler chickens (Khuhu dza mabaphanya) after we were given a stand by the local traditional leader."
Cllr Nenguda said that they were delighted to witness the successful and well-functioning project. "We are happy because people living with disabilities in Pile village are not hidden behind closed doors. They are part of the community and claiming their rightful place in society," he said.