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{
    "id": 801650,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/801650/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 262,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Shiyonga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13181,
        "legal_name": "Masitsa Naomi Shiyonga",
        "slug": "masitsa-naomi-shiyonga"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this Motion of Registration of PWDs. This registration is long overdue in our country. I know that thisparticular exercise comes with its own expenses, but it is the right of PWDs to be accounted for, wherever they are in in this country. These people, just like any other person, need to enjoy the rights of being educated, owning properties and basic rights as a whole. Madam Temporary Speaker, it is very disappointing to see that most of PWDs are not accounted for. The data given of slightly above 10 per cent is not accurate. There is, therefore, the need for these people to be accounted for one by one, until we get the approximate, if not their actual number. Madam Temporary Speaker, most PWDs live in terrible poverty and they are hidden. We sometimes see them on television when someone has tried to highlight their issues. Some are even kept in cowsheds, are tied with chains and are frustrated. PWDs are human beings who need to be respected and they need their rights, just like any other person in this country. It is high time that PWDs, both at the national and county levels are accounted for so that they can be incorporated into different programmes and projects that favour their disability needs. When we have accurate statistics on the same, we can align them with a budget and be able to meet all the needs. If not so, we can meet some important things that they need in this country. That category of people think that they are a bother to those who are well but these statistics will enable us to make them not feel that they are a bother or parasites to people who do not care for them. It is the high time that we put the exercise in place and account for these people as well as look at how best we come up with a programme or bring their needs on board so as to help them. Having been born with some, I can say that these people are vulnerable in our communities as alluded to by some of my colleagues and some of them, especially women, are abused. As women, we go through a lot when we are well and you can imagine what happens when one has an extra problem, especially on their physique and they are abused. It becomes so demonizing that one cannot take account of their life. Considering how some of these people are handled in our communities, this is the best time for us to account for these people so as to have the Government take portion of their needs at the national level, for them to be assisted so as to prevent them from being embarrassed or frustrated. With those remarks, I beg to support the Motion."
}