President Mnangagwa challenges people living Disability to defy the charity case stereotype 

President Mnangagwa challenges people living Disability to defy the charity case stereotype

 

 

Brian Rungano Temba

 

His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has challenged people living with Disability to rally their energy towards national building

 

President Mnangagwa said this while addressing mourners at the funeral ceremony for the late Cde Joshua Teke Malinga who was buried today at the National Heroes Acre.

 

“I challenge persons with disabilities in particular, and the nation at large, to never allow ourselves to be objects of charity and sympathy.

 

We are all “differentially abled”. Let us, therefore, rally our energy, skills, capabilities and competencies to build, modernise and industrialise Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa.

 

President Mnangagwa also told mourners gathered to remember that the same enemy Galant Heroes of the Liberation Struggle fought and defeated are still actively pursuing neo-colonialism upon Zimbabwe.

 

“Today, the same forces that orchestrated and supported the incarceration, maiming and killing of our cadres for demanding independence and majority rule, come to us masquerading as champions of democracy. We will never forget,” added President Mnangagwa

 

The late Cde Joshua Teke Malinga was honoured for his instrumental work as a champion of disability rights.

 

Cde Malinga travelled to over 70 countries giving lectures on disability and development and also attending conferences, seminars, symposia and workshops on human rights, environment, social, disability, political and economic issues.

 

He played an outstanding role as an international speaker, defender and campaigner on human and civil rights.

 

Cde Joshua Malinga was Special Advisor to the President on Disability, ZANU PF Politburo member and former Mayor of Bulawayo.

 

In 2017, His Excellency, President E.D Mnangagwa appointed Cde Malinga Special Advisor on national disability issues to the Office of the President and Cabinet, a position he served up to the time of his demise.

 

In his role as special adviser on national disability, Cde J. Malinga managed to come up with a National Disability Policy of Zimbabwe, a first of its kind.