People with disabilities decry ‘inequality’ on election issues

Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) Chairman Ernest Kimaya.

The federation of people with disabilities has voiced concern over lack of equality for persons with disabilities in the ongoing political elections calling on the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to ensure availability of tactile ballots during the October polls.

 

Notably, since the introduction of multiparty elections in 1995, people with disabilities, notably the blind, were only assisted by their helpers, increasing risk of cheating in the voting due to lack of tactile ballot at polling centres.

 

Addressing an ongoing workshop organised by the Foundation for Civil Societies in Tanzania yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Felician Mkude, secretary general of Tanzania Federation of Disabled People’s Organisations (Shivyawata), lauded NEC for expressing interest to introduce tactile ballot for the first time in history.

 

He said the initiative would allow the underprivileged to exercise their constitution rights and increase  their participation in political elections.

 

“It’s good that NEC has accepted our proposal for ensuring we allocate tactile ballot at polling centres for the person with disabilities,” he said.

 

The workshop brought about representatives from various dignitaries to provide a platform for information sharing and discussion of issues with vital importance to the political and elections rights to persons with disabilities.

 

“Its in our expectations that NEC shall issue sample tactile ballot before end of this month,” Mkude said at the workshop Wednesday.

 

He went on to highlight that the commission will also release sign language interpreters at election centres for deaf people.

 

Currently they are collaborating with NEC find out which areas have deaf and blind people. The data will be helpful for the group during the October polls.

 

Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) Chairman Ernest Kimaya, was of the view that: “currently there is no such budget since during the just ended national budget debate the matter was not highlighted.”

 

He said “we need tactile ballot and sign language experts and should not be compromised in any way with budget deficit.”

 

He said the government should consider it as a matter of urgency, thus it must look for money for enabling free and fair elections.

 

Executive director of the Foundation for Civil Society, Francis Kiwanga, noted that due to previous efforts, including civic education and introduction of persons with disabilities Act, this year will see an increased participation of the group in the elections.

 

Government figures show that people with disabilities account for six per cent of total population of about 45 million people. According to data collected in 2004, there are about 350,000 blind people in the country.

 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN