I have just celebrated my 55th birthday on Wednesday 2009 and the following day the one of Malawi’s dailies, the Daily Times featured an article which was written about in 1981 when I did my first ever solo Art Exbhition at one of the top hotels in Blantyre.
Of course I looked very young with an expression that depicted a sense of expression.I was amazed by the concidence of this picture coming out in the paper at a time when I was celebrating my birthday! Friends and relatives phoned me from different places to find out whether I had seen the picture.
Looking at the picture, I reminisced and reflected at a number of things that have happened to me since. Needless to say I am aging and the Good Lord has given me a lot of good things to cherish and one of which is a beautiful wife and children who have enriched my life giving it a lot of meaning.
My marrigage to my wife was something that was both exciting and tearful at the sometime! Exciting because we had grown up together in the same mining town years back in Zimbabwe.That time she was very small and I never imagined that there could ever be a time when we could become husband and wife.We were both born in the same place and also attended the same school.
Our parents were friends and they happened to belong to the same tribe. They had travelled from Malawi to Zimbabwe to seek work in the mines. When my father retired to come home to Malawi we were the first to come leaving behind her parents who were still working in Zimbabwe. She was then sent to come and live in Malawi with her grandmother and that was when we met and fell in love.
Unfortunately, when her parents heard about this they were not amused and were very much against the marriage but by that time she was pregnant so there was little they could do. The idea that their daughte was married to someone with a disability was something they could not stomach and they made that clear to me. They wondered how a disabled person like me was going to care for their daughter! I was very saddened and shocked!
My wife stood her ground and vowed that she was not goinng to bend towards her parents wishes,hence we continued living together. God blessed our family and we were endowed with beautiful children and our home was a model of happiness and love in the neighbourhood.Even the sceptics including my parents in law were astounded.
They realised that inspite of my disability I was able to sustain for my family,sending my children to school and ven supporting them. This changed their mindset such that today they are very supportive and apologised for what happened.
As I celebrate my birthday,I feel that life is a great teacher and that positive living is one of the greatest weapons to fight discrimination.Disabled people need to demonstrate that disability is not ability through their lifestyle. That is the only weapon that can transform our society.
Today my kids have grown big and two are about to graduate from colleage. As I look back I smile as I marvel at the grace of our awesome God!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
2009 Has Come and Gone
The year 2009 has come and gone. Looking in retrospect in terms of disability, perhaps one positive development in the year was the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the government putting Malawi among the number countries have taken step to accept this historic step.
Indeed this was quite ground breaking in as far as the history of the disability movement was concerned. But for this achievement to really become more meaningful and it needs to go beyond pen and paper in order to change the lives of the majority of persons with disabilities who still lead lives that are deprived and marginalized.
The challenge that remains is for the convention to be domesticated and enforced so that it is translated from a paper into a tool that is able to assist in bringing to food to disabled people and their families; create more educational opportunities for disabled children; create their training and job opportunities and ultimately build an inclusive society where disabled persons are able to maximize their fullest potential.
The Convention has been ratified at a time when the Government has still unfinished business in terms finalizing the implementation plan of the National Policy on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities which was launched in 2008 with a lot of pomp.
In addition to that, the Government has been grappling with the Disability Bill which has been in limbo for the last five years or so. The Bill which has been developed in tune with principles of the UN Convention has been described by disability analysts as one of the best pieces of legislation in the region and if enacted could provide very effective legislative framework that could used as a launched pad for the empowerment of persons with disabilities in the country.
The lack of capacity of the Ministry for Persons withn Disabilities and the Elderly which is charged to deal with these issues has also contributed to the state of affairs.The Ministry has been ill equiped to propel this process in the right direction.Disability analysists attribute this to the fact that the Ministry has been engrossed with the issues of the elderly at the expense of that of disability.
The status quo has perpetuated the both the discrimination and stigmitisation of persons with disabilitiesn and this has also been detrimental to efforts towards the mai
Indeed this was quite ground breaking in as far as the history of the disability movement was concerned. But for this achievement to really become more meaningful and it needs to go beyond pen and paper in order to change the lives of the majority of persons with disabilities who still lead lives that are deprived and marginalized.
The challenge that remains is for the convention to be domesticated and enforced so that it is translated from a paper into a tool that is able to assist in bringing to food to disabled people and their families; create more educational opportunities for disabled children; create their training and job opportunities and ultimately build an inclusive society where disabled persons are able to maximize their fullest potential.
The Convention has been ratified at a time when the Government has still unfinished business in terms finalizing the implementation plan of the National Policy on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities which was launched in 2008 with a lot of pomp.
In addition to that, the Government has been grappling with the Disability Bill which has been in limbo for the last five years or so. The Bill which has been developed in tune with principles of the UN Convention has been described by disability analysts as one of the best pieces of legislation in the region and if enacted could provide very effective legislative framework that could used as a launched pad for the empowerment of persons with disabilities in the country.
The lack of capacity of the Ministry for Persons withn Disabilities and the Elderly which is charged to deal with these issues has also contributed to the state of affairs.The Ministry has been ill equiped to propel this process in the right direction.Disability analysists attribute this to the fact that the Ministry has been engrossed with the issues of the elderly at the expense of that of disability.
The status quo has perpetuated the both the discrimination and stigmitisation of persons with disabilitiesn and this has also been detrimental to efforts towards the mai
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
MALAWI RATIFIES THE UN CONVENTION
I learnt with glee that Malawi finally ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I was somewhat amazed that this was done without any hype or fanfare.
Malawi joins a community of nations that have made a commitment in ensuring that all policies, implementation strategies and practice take into account the rights of persons with disabilities specifically all sectors of society have a role to play in the implementation of the Convention in the improvement of quality of life of disabled people.
The ratification of the UN Convention is a major milestone in the history of disability in Malawi and is a major boost towards the empowerment of persons with disabilities in the country.
Malawi’s ratification of the Convention is meant to "promote, protect and
ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity".
It is, therefore, very crucial that the policy and legal framework in Malawi is also in tune with the provisions of the UN Convention which are developmental and rights based in approach. This entails the enactment of the Bill on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities which is still is in limbo four years down the line.
The government needs to enforce the implementation plan of the National Policy on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities which was launched almost two years ago.
The ratification of the UN Convention also means that as nation, Malawi is obligated to live by the letter and spirit of the Convention. It is important that the Convention be domesticated by putting it in language that is easily understood by the general populace.
The political will that has been demonstrated by the ratification of the Convention should also be expressed through the wholesale implementation of the provisions of the Convention.
It is only when this is done that the provisions of the UN Convention can be brought to fruition and be meaningful in the lives of persons with disabilities in an inclusive Malawi!
Malawi joins a community of nations that have made a commitment in ensuring that all policies, implementation strategies and practice take into account the rights of persons with disabilities specifically all sectors of society have a role to play in the implementation of the Convention in the improvement of quality of life of disabled people.
The ratification of the UN Convention is a major milestone in the history of disability in Malawi and is a major boost towards the empowerment of persons with disabilities in the country.
Malawi’s ratification of the Convention is meant to "promote, protect and
ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity".
It is, therefore, very crucial that the policy and legal framework in Malawi is also in tune with the provisions of the UN Convention which are developmental and rights based in approach. This entails the enactment of the Bill on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities which is still is in limbo four years down the line.
The government needs to enforce the implementation plan of the National Policy on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities which was launched almost two years ago.
The ratification of the UN Convention also means that as nation, Malawi is obligated to live by the letter and spirit of the Convention. It is important that the Convention be domesticated by putting it in language that is easily understood by the general populace.
The political will that has been demonstrated by the ratification of the Convention should also be expressed through the wholesale implementation of the provisions of the Convention.
It is only when this is done that the provisions of the UN Convention can be brought to fruition and be meaningful in the lives of persons with disabilities in an inclusive Malawi!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Visit To Germany
I have just returned from a one week study visit to Germany at the invitation of the German Federal Government. I was one of the invited guests from six African countries namely: Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi.
When I got the invitation I had mixed feelings because German was one of the countries that I was not quite keen to visit because of stories that I had heard.
I had been told that the Germans were very rigid and not very friendly to blacks and persons with disabilities. I heard nasty stories of disabled people who had been roughed up by 'gangs' and this had created an uneasy feeling in me.
Still I made up my mind to go and see for myself. With support from the Germany Embassy all travel arrangement were finalized for me and my wife who was to accompany me on the trip.
When we arrived in Germany we visited Berlin, Bonn and Düsseldorf, I was amazed by the warmth and friendliness of the people of German as we traveled which was in sharp contrast to the stories that had been told to me.
We visited many historical places and also organisations and Government departments that promote the wellbeing of persons with disabilities. We noted that the Germany government puts massive investments in ensuring that persons with various disabilities lead productive lives of dignity and self-worth.
We were awed by how technology is playing a huge role in leveling the playing field in terms of promoting equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities in the German society.
I reflected on how the North-South partnership could effectively play a part in also building an enabling environment that would assist disabled people in developing world to fulfill their maximum potential. There is need to promote the transfer of technology, promotion of educational opportunities for persons with disabilities and mainstreaming of disability in development aid to Africa which would culminate in sustainable development.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a strong tool that can be used as an effective mechanism in this regard.
After the visit the African delegation produced a communiqué that called upon, among other things, the need to mainstream disability in German development aid to Africa in line with letter and spirit of the UN Convention on disability.
As we took the plane back home I realized that the prejudices I had nurtured about the German people were very far from being true!
When I got the invitation I had mixed feelings because German was one of the countries that I was not quite keen to visit because of stories that I had heard.
I had been told that the Germans were very rigid and not very friendly to blacks and persons with disabilities. I heard nasty stories of disabled people who had been roughed up by 'gangs' and this had created an uneasy feeling in me.
Still I made up my mind to go and see for myself. With support from the Germany Embassy all travel arrangement were finalized for me and my wife who was to accompany me on the trip.
When we arrived in Germany we visited Berlin, Bonn and Düsseldorf, I was amazed by the warmth and friendliness of the people of German as we traveled which was in sharp contrast to the stories that had been told to me.
We visited many historical places and also organisations and Government departments that promote the wellbeing of persons with disabilities. We noted that the Germany government puts massive investments in ensuring that persons with various disabilities lead productive lives of dignity and self-worth.
We were awed by how technology is playing a huge role in leveling the playing field in terms of promoting equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities in the German society.
I reflected on how the North-South partnership could effectively play a part in also building an enabling environment that would assist disabled people in developing world to fulfill their maximum potential. There is need to promote the transfer of technology, promotion of educational opportunities for persons with disabilities and mainstreaming of disability in development aid to Africa which would culminate in sustainable development.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a strong tool that can be used as an effective mechanism in this regard.
After the visit the African delegation produced a communiqué that called upon, among other things, the need to mainstream disability in German development aid to Africa in line with letter and spirit of the UN Convention on disability.
As we took the plane back home I realized that the prejudices I had nurtured about the German people were very far from being true!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Malawi Elections and Principles
As the nation prepares for the General Elections on the 19 May 2009 a lot of interesting things are taking place which have unmasked the type of politicians that we have running for the office.
One thing that has struck me has been the inconsistencies that have been displayed by some of our politicians which have raised a lot of questions in terms of principles.
One is disturbed by the manner in which they have change goal posts so to say.One time they say something to the electorate and the following day they say something different.Positions of leadership require people that have principles and stand by their principles and this assists in building confidence in the electorate.
Most of our politicians take people for granted and tend to treat them like robots who cannot think, which is a miscalculation.Malawi is a country in which the majority live in poverty and politicians should desist from taking advantage of this to make false promises just to get elected into office and then fail to fulfill those promises.
The country needs principled politicians who are guided by by the desire to serve the masses that are still wallowing in dire poverty not just for self gratification.
It is my desire that the electorate will not be taken for ride this time around by making good choices!
Vote wisely!
One thing that has struck me has been the inconsistencies that have been displayed by some of our politicians which have raised a lot of questions in terms of principles.
One is disturbed by the manner in which they have change goal posts so to say.One time they say something to the electorate and the following day they say something different.Positions of leadership require people that have principles and stand by their principles and this assists in building confidence in the electorate.
Most of our politicians take people for granted and tend to treat them like robots who cannot think, which is a miscalculation.Malawi is a country in which the majority live in poverty and politicians should desist from taking advantage of this to make false promises just to get elected into office and then fail to fulfill those promises.
The country needs principled politicians who are guided by by the desire to serve the masses that are still wallowing in dire poverty not just for self gratification.
It is my desire that the electorate will not be taken for ride this time around by making good choices!
Vote wisely!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Disability and Art
At times in my quietest moments when I look back where I have come from I sometimes shudder to imagine what my life would have been if God had not given me the kind of mother that I had.
My mother was one of the special breed of mothers who was both a disciplinarian and very pragmatic, someone who looked at a challenge head-on. You see when I was struck by polio at an early age of four which left me immobile, she did not lose heart. She was courageous enough to approach the Head Master of the local Primary School for me to start school at a time when many mothers did not see the wisdom of sending a disabled child to school.
It was not surprising when the Head Master refused and argued that the school could not handle the needs of a disabled child and suggested instead that I be sent to a specialized school. This, my parents could not afford. The following year it was the same story but I was only accepted after the third attempt when a new Head Master was posted to the school.
At school, I faced some initial problems when I was adjusting to the new environment until I eventually fitted into the school system where eventually I was made one of the school prefects.
After completing my primary education I was selected to the secondary school where I went as far as the third form when my parents returned from Zimbabwe back home to Malawi. When I arrived home I was not able to get enrolled at any secondary school because of rigid regulations by the then government.
So I was forced to study through distance education which saw me pass my ‘O’ level examination with grades that were pre-requisites for University entry but I was refused due to my disability-that was the most painful moment and a turning point in my life.
This was the point in my life that I vowed to fight against such discrimination that so that this social injustice should not be meted to the new generation of disabled children.
After failure to proceed with education, my attempts to get a job proved futile and my life was in a quandary. It was at the point in time that I met a man who changed my outlook to life. Victor was severely disabled that he needed assistance to be fed, clothed and had to be propped up in his wheelchair.
What struck me about Victor was that inspite of severe disability; he oozed bundles of self confidence and produced wonderful paintings using his mouth which he sold to lots of art lovers both in and outside the country.
Victor was a role model who lived with his wife and a kid and employed some assistants. I had never imagined that a person with such severe disability could live and successfully manage both a family and a business.
I was instantly inspired and I worked under his tutelage for almost one year. Luckily, during my school days I used to do some drawings so I quickly adapted. He introduced me to an area whose scope in terms of imagination and creativity was limitless.
Art created great opportunities for me as someone with disability and assisted me in meeting many people from various backgrounds. After my stint with Victor I started my own art career which saw mount various exhibitions both inside and outside the country.
My art pieces were bought to grace many hotels including the State House at one point. One piece was bought by Mrs. Shriver, a sister to President Kennedy of the US at the exhibition in Taipei, Republic of China. Art is a very important medium in terms of creating a sense of self worth and self expression and can be a used as a strong tool for the empowerment of persons with disabilities.
I am fundraising and working on a project to build a craft village which will promote artistic expression for both persons with disabilities and those without. The village will also be used to assist to militate against stigmatization that is attached to disability by showcasing abilities rather than disabilities.
My mother was one of the special breed of mothers who was both a disciplinarian and very pragmatic, someone who looked at a challenge head-on. You see when I was struck by polio at an early age of four which left me immobile, she did not lose heart. She was courageous enough to approach the Head Master of the local Primary School for me to start school at a time when many mothers did not see the wisdom of sending a disabled child to school.
It was not surprising when the Head Master refused and argued that the school could not handle the needs of a disabled child and suggested instead that I be sent to a specialized school. This, my parents could not afford. The following year it was the same story but I was only accepted after the third attempt when a new Head Master was posted to the school.
At school, I faced some initial problems when I was adjusting to the new environment until I eventually fitted into the school system where eventually I was made one of the school prefects.
After completing my primary education I was selected to the secondary school where I went as far as the third form when my parents returned from Zimbabwe back home to Malawi. When I arrived home I was not able to get enrolled at any secondary school because of rigid regulations by the then government.
So I was forced to study through distance education which saw me pass my ‘O’ level examination with grades that were pre-requisites for University entry but I was refused due to my disability-that was the most painful moment and a turning point in my life.
This was the point in my life that I vowed to fight against such discrimination that so that this social injustice should not be meted to the new generation of disabled children.
After failure to proceed with education, my attempts to get a job proved futile and my life was in a quandary. It was at the point in time that I met a man who changed my outlook to life. Victor was severely disabled that he needed assistance to be fed, clothed and had to be propped up in his wheelchair.
What struck me about Victor was that inspite of severe disability; he oozed bundles of self confidence and produced wonderful paintings using his mouth which he sold to lots of art lovers both in and outside the country.
Victor was a role model who lived with his wife and a kid and employed some assistants. I had never imagined that a person with such severe disability could live and successfully manage both a family and a business.
I was instantly inspired and I worked under his tutelage for almost one year. Luckily, during my school days I used to do some drawings so I quickly adapted. He introduced me to an area whose scope in terms of imagination and creativity was limitless.
Art created great opportunities for me as someone with disability and assisted me in meeting many people from various backgrounds. After my stint with Victor I started my own art career which saw mount various exhibitions both inside and outside the country.
My art pieces were bought to grace many hotels including the State House at one point. One piece was bought by Mrs. Shriver, a sister to President Kennedy of the US at the exhibition in Taipei, Republic of China. Art is a very important medium in terms of creating a sense of self worth and self expression and can be a used as a strong tool for the empowerment of persons with disabilities.
I am fundraising and working on a project to build a craft village which will promote artistic expression for both persons with disabilities and those without. The village will also be used to assist to militate against stigmatization that is attached to disability by showcasing abilities rather than disabilities.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
About Disability and Assistive Devices
As a person with a disability, I fail not to be astounded and appreciative of the way technology can contribute to the empowerment of persons with disabilities by enabling them successfully cope in a society that is full of obstacles that impede their advancement.
I vividly recall how my life was transformed when my parents,after a long time of struggle, finally acquired a wheelchair for me having been carried on the back by my brothers to and from school during the early part of my primary education.It was such a huge relief for my brothers since I was growing and also becoming heavy.
For the first time I felt great and a huge sense of freedom since I was able to wheel myself around and today I cannot ever imagine my life without a wheelchair.It has enabled me to achieve many things.I remember telling my colleagues that one of the greatest things the wheelchair did for me was that it enabled me to travel to place where I was able to come into contact with a woman who has become my beloved wife!
The wheelchair can open windows of opportunities for any individual:one is able to go to school;to go to work;to go to church and to do so many countless things in order to lead a meaningful and productive live.
But the irony is that such useful thing is not accessible to many disabled persons in Africa due to the high costs which are out of reach to lot of people that lead lives of deprivation such that a wheelchair is nothing but a luxury yet it is such a powerful tool that can liberate may from shackles of ignorance and dire poverty.
Many African governments do not regard wheelchairs and other assistive devices (such as crutches and callipers) as priorities on the development agenda and therefore the non unavailability of these hugely contribute to the perpetuation of helplessness,ignorance and poverty that continue to haunt lives of many disabled people in Africa
The demise of the Malawi Against Physical Disability (MAP) is a classic case in point.MAP manufactures low cost wheelchairs and tricycles that are ideal for the local environment and are given to disabled people throughout the country.
The services of the organisation have now come to a halt because government is reluctant to fund the project and this has resulted in many disabled people facing serious mobility problems such as school drop outs and will even unable some to cast their votes in the forthcoming elections this year thus disfranchising them and pushing them further to the margins of the society.
Yet, there is so much hype about government running pro-poor development agenda. One is struck by the contradiction!It is only when assistive devices are made available that we can start talking about levelling the playing field and also about a pro-poor development agenda and it is high time government woke up to this reality!
I vividly recall how my life was transformed when my parents,after a long time of struggle, finally acquired a wheelchair for me having been carried on the back by my brothers to and from school during the early part of my primary education.It was such a huge relief for my brothers since I was growing and also becoming heavy.
For the first time I felt great and a huge sense of freedom since I was able to wheel myself around and today I cannot ever imagine my life without a wheelchair.It has enabled me to achieve many things.I remember telling my colleagues that one of the greatest things the wheelchair did for me was that it enabled me to travel to place where I was able to come into contact with a woman who has become my beloved wife!
The wheelchair can open windows of opportunities for any individual:one is able to go to school;to go to work;to go to church and to do so many countless things in order to lead a meaningful and productive live.
But the irony is that such useful thing is not accessible to many disabled persons in Africa due to the high costs which are out of reach to lot of people that lead lives of deprivation such that a wheelchair is nothing but a luxury yet it is such a powerful tool that can liberate may from shackles of ignorance and dire poverty.
Many African governments do not regard wheelchairs and other assistive devices (such as crutches and callipers) as priorities on the development agenda and therefore the non unavailability of these hugely contribute to the perpetuation of helplessness,ignorance and poverty that continue to haunt lives of many disabled people in Africa
The demise of the Malawi Against Physical Disability (MAP) is a classic case in point.MAP manufactures low cost wheelchairs and tricycles that are ideal for the local environment and are given to disabled people throughout the country.
The services of the organisation have now come to a halt because government is reluctant to fund the project and this has resulted in many disabled people facing serious mobility problems such as school drop outs and will even unable some to cast their votes in the forthcoming elections this year thus disfranchising them and pushing them further to the margins of the society.
Yet, there is so much hype about government running pro-poor development agenda. One is struck by the contradiction!It is only when assistive devices are made available that we can start talking about levelling the playing field and also about a pro-poor development agenda and it is high time government woke up to this reality!
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