NFPDN holds national congress
The National Federation of People with Disabilities in Namibia (NFPDN) on Tuesday commenced a two-day national congress to elect a new national executive committee.
Deputy Minister of Disability Affairs Alexia Ncube in her statement read on her behalf during the official opening of the national congress said, the federation is strengthening the efforts of the government to reach its short term and long term goals such as vision 2030, the Harambee Prosperity Plan II, sustainable development goals and all other legal frameworks put in place to uplift the Namibian nation.
“Organisations of persons living with disabilities especially in the regions are usually very helpful and our offices have built good relationships with them,” she said.
She encouraged the federation to carry on its works saying it has an extraordinary responsibility to bring everybody on board, identify those who are not affiliated yet and encourage them to join.
“I am very impressed with how the activities of the NFPDN continued such as the continuous awareness-raising on national platforms despite the challenges it faced and Covid-19 impacts,” she further lauded.
Meanwhile, participants will during the two days deliberate on issues concerning persons living with disabilities in the country, review the achievements and challenges of the NFPDN, receive updates on projects in which the federation is involved as well as review its financial statements.
Approval of new applicants for membership, amendment of the federation’s constitution and the NFPDN activity plan will also be discussed during the congress.
Incumbent NFPDN chairperson Daniel Trum said the congress is held every four years adding that the last congress was held in 2015 but due to the federation’s financial difficulties, it was unable to hold its congress in 2019. A new chairperson, deputy
chairperson, secretary, treasurer and four other ordinary members of the executive committee were to be elected by the end of the congress yesterday.
NFPDN was established in 1991 as an umbrella organisation to respond to the need for a collective voice and action that advocate for the protection
of the rights of persons with disabilities in Namibia and achieve equal opportunities and rights for all people with disabilities.