Stop abuse of the disabled: Chief

COMMUNITIES have been urged to stop abusing children living with disabilities, amid calls for Government to roll out awareness campaigns to stop the problem from spiralling out of control.

Chief Zimuto (Solomo Zimuto), last week said the physically-challenged children deserved assistance.

Chief Zimuto was speaking at Copota School of the Blind at in Zimuto Mission.

Copota relies on donor assistance to sustain operations at the institution which is home to about 450 physically-challenged children.

“My appeal to you is that please do not abuse physically-challenged children in your communities,” said Chief Zimuto.

“It is wrong to take advantage of a child because they are disabled.

“We should instead help those children as they are dependent on their able-bodied counterparts to make ends meet in their day-today lives.

“It is also important to note that according to the laws of our land, child abuse is a criminal offence. Those who abuse children will be arrested.”

Chief Zimuto said cases of child abuse were going down in his area owing to a number of initiatives.

This was corroborated by headman Mr James Gono who said awareness campaigns helped to peg back cases of child abuse.

“Government and its development partners should carry awareness campaigns to educate communities about the implications of child abuse, particularly abuse of children who are physically-challenged,’’ he said.

“In Zimuto, cases of child abuse have been going down because of awareness campaigns that we always do in the area while surrounding communities have a better appreciation of the plight of people with disabilities because of the proximity to Copota School of the Blind which is located in this area.”

Children at Copota are equipped with various practical skills such as basket weaving and chalk-making to help them sustain their lives after graduating from the institution.