Vice President Lucia Witbooi engaged with disability centres in the Zambezi Region to promote inclusivity.

The Vice President visited the Mainstream Foundation, an organisation founded by parents of disabled children in 2008.

Founder Sylvia Chidunka said the centre aims to integrate children into mainstream society.

"We are striving for non-discrimination; we want the rights of these children to be realised. We are the voices of these children, Madam Vice President. Our children cannot stand for themselves; it is we, the parents, who must advocate for their rights." 

Chidunka added that too many instances still exist of parents who have not accepted the disabilities of their children.

The organisation, she said, thus works tirelessly to sensitise the community to recognise their children as part of society, the same as any other child.

"As Namibians, we all have abilities and limitations in some form; therefore, it is important that as a society we focus on nurturing the abilities that exist in each child living with disabilities through the provision of education, care, skills, individual support and love," said Vice President Witbooi.

Inclusivity should not only be a theory on paper, she said, but should be strived for in the real world where people with disabilities play an active role. 

"Any programmes at all levels that are aimed at social, economic and potential development must include proportional participation of people living with disabilities so that they are visible at all levels from decision-making to rehabilitation, monitoring and evaluation."

Manga Nankole is the mother of a child with a disability. She said that, while her son is unable to walk or write, he is an attentive listener, and she would therefore like to see schools provide for speech therapy.

Another concern is infrastructure, for example, the lack of suitable routes for wheelchair users. 

Finally, those in attendance called for improvement of the N$1,600 disability grant.

While this is meant to help children meet their daily needs, they noted that often guardians are forced to quit working full-time jobs to become caregivers.

Vice President Witbooi assured the community that all their issues would be considered.