Buhle Mhlaulo
Nyasha Shonhe has been elected a Member of Parliament for the Youth chapter representing persons living with disabilities in Midlands Province, marking a significant step forward for disability rights and inclusivity in Zimbabwean politics.
As the newly elected MP, Shonhe is committed to amplifying the voices of young people with disabilities and ensuring that their concerns are addressed at the highest levels of government.
Shonhe, in his acceptance speech, expressed his gratitude to be given the opportunity to be a Member of Parliament and promised to work tirelessly.
“I am honored and humbled by this opportunity to serve. I pledge to work tirelessly to promote inclusivity, accessibility, and equal opportunities for all young people with disabilities in Midlands Province,” he said.
Shonhe said he was motivated by his own disability to stand for the rights and advocate for others.
“What motivated me is the fact that l am a person living with disability. I know all the challenges and drawbacks people and persons living with disabilities are facing and therefore seek to find the solution to curtail the problem,” Shonhe said.
“There are multiplicities of challenges facing people living with disabilities, such as transport, as many commuter drivers do not want to ferry us because it is burdensome. If they choose to do so, they do it at a cost.
“This is quite pathetic, more so, we face the linguistic barriers as the deaf need interpreters in all institutions so that they can get help, especially in hospitals and clinics,” Shonhe said.
The government must provide braille for the blind, hearing aids for the deaf, wheelchairs, crutches, and special cosmetics for people with albinism.
When calling a person with disability, we must use their real name and avoid calling them names like (Chirema).
“Disability does not mean inability, so people must respect our rights and we need to be part and parcel of everything happening in Zimbabwe.
I want to ensure that our rights and responsibilities are recognized,” he added.
All media platforms must advocate for the inclusivity of people living with disabilities in all facets of the economy.
These include television stations, radio stations and Facebook, WhatsApp Instagram.
