HOPEFUL SOULS
People living with disabilities optimistic about Chema Chema
Botswana Council for the Disabled is hoping that the newlylaunched Chema Chema Fund will benefit their members. The Council’s Executive Director, Moffat Louis told The Midweek Sun in an interview that they believe that Chema Chema Fund will be one of the few government-funding programmes that will be more accessible to persons with disabilities. Louis highlighted that there are many women, especially mothers of young people with disabilities who could not get formal employment because they had to balance between their caring responsibilities and economic activities. He said most of these women could set up stalls in the vicinity of their homes and operate businesses. “We believe this will give an outright push to such families,” Louis said. Louis appealed to government to make information accessible in different formats so that all persons with disabilities can access the documents. He said the Council will monitor the rollout of the programme in the coming days and weeks and assist persons with disabilities as they apply for funding. Ruth Chisiyanwa (67) from
Moroka near Francistown, who was hit by a car in Maun in 1991 said as a disabled person, the Chema Chema Fund can help her to set up a small business like a tuckshop within her residence. She told The Midweek Sun that she used to support her family as a vendor at the Francistown bus rank before the accident. Chisiyanwa currently depends on her four children. Chisiyanwa’s only request is that there be a provision for people like her to be assisted from home where they can be assisted to fill in forms. “Some people living with disability are suffering because they do not have the means to visit offices such as Local Enterprise Authority and Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency to be assisted,” Chisiyanwa said. Ntungamili Bapindi (34) of Block 7 Francistown, who is disabled from a paralysis related condition after he fell, is happy about the Chema Chema roving fund. However, he feels that Government should ensure that people living with disabilities are assisted effectively. Bapindi also urges that people living with disabilities be provided with open spaces for them to operate their small businesses. He is optimistic that this is a great initiative that would improve their lives in many ways.