The Sunday Mail
Disability Issues
Dr Christine Peta
THIS week, I am focusing on the just ended Electoral College for Persons with a Disability.
Nasper Manyau, a robust disability activist, won the elections for the female Senatorial post, which became vacant following the passing on of Rejoice Timire, who succumbed to Covid-19 last year.
The Electoral College began with the observance of a minute of silence for the late Senator Timire and took place on May 14 at the Harare International Conference Centre.
The event brought together representatives of organisations for persons with all kinds of disabilities, from both rural and urban areas in all the country’s 10 provinces.
The Electoral College followed a pre-electoral college workshop which was facilitated by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and the Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare the previous week, May 7, in Kadoma.
The workshop represented voter education, which sought to impart knowledge to persons with disabilities about the process of electing Senators of Disability as well as their roles.
This was meant to help them make informed decisions.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act, 2013, under section 120 (1d) provides for the appointment of two elected Senators, nominated by persons with disabilities themselves to champion their rights.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Act (2:13) Seventh Schedule (Section 45A) provides for the election of senators through the Electoral College to represent persons with disabilities.
Among other things, the same act directs gender balance both in terms of the composition of delegates at the Electoral College, and the two elected Senators.
It is therefore for this reason that the just-ended process sought to fill the vacant post of a female Senator. Male delegates were eligible to vote.
Honorable Watson Khupe is the sitting male Senator of Disability Affairs.
Gender balance in relation to delegates was achieved through ensuring that the required number of representatives from each organisation of persons with disabilities consisted of an equal number of candidates in relation to male and female delegates.
Section 3.27 of the National Disability Policy (2021) is dedicated to the political and public life of persons with disabilities, thus directing that persons with disabilities must enjoy and exercise their right to vote or to be elected as well as ensuring that all voting procedures, facilities and materials are appropriate, accessible and in formats that are easy to understand and use.
Manyau was born with physical disability and has a history of activism that dates back to her days in primary school.
She holds a diploma in Women Leadership and Development and is also a certified life coach.
The Senator is a successful businesswoman who runs a vibrant fragrance project, which is a testament that disability is not inability.
“In this position of Senator, I really want to make a significant contribution towards enhancing the well-being of persons with disabilities and their families. I am passionate about promoting the self-reliance of persons with disabilities.
“I believe that with the right support, persons with disabilities can establish and sustain vibrant economic projects, fend for themselves and their families as well as contribute to the development of the nation,” said the Disability Senator after her election.
The robust disability activist has come a long way.
“I am proud of the fact that in 2017, I managed to convince the then Harare Mayor, to build a ramp at Town House, thus making it easy for wheelchair users to access the public facility.
“Persons with physical disabilities had for many years been struggling to access Town House infrastructure,” she said.
Senator Manyau is also an advocate of peace, teamwork and unity.
“My heart bleeds because of the fragmentation that currently exists in the disability constituency. I, therefore, call for unity and collaboration in the constituency so that we support one another and speak with one voice,” she pleaded.
Among other things, Senators speak with citizens about problems, concerns or suggestions they have for their constituency.
Likewise, Senators of Disability are expected to be in constant engagement with citizens who want to share their opinions, particularly persons with disabilities and their families and representative organisations.
By speaking with one voice, organisations of persons with disabilities build a strong disability movement with a solid mechanism to participate and lobby for changes including law reforms that promote the realisation of the rights of persons with incapacities in all facets of life.
Let us all join hands to support Senator Nasper Manyau in her mission.
Dr Christine Peta is a Disability, Policy, International Development and research expert who is the National Director of Disability Affairs in Zimbabwe — she can be contacted on: [email protected]
