----Forwarded Message----
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Mon Dec 6th, 2010 2:30 PM PST
Subject: Fwd: Request for assistance towards the participation of blind citizens in the constitution-making process
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: kudzai Shava <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2010 22:56:14 +0200
Subject: Fwd: Request for assistance towards the participation of
blind citizens in the constitution-making process
To: [log in to unmask]
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: kudzai Shava <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2010 05:33:16 +0200
Subject: Request for assistance towards the participation of blind
citizens in the constitution-making process
To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
[log in to unmask]
Dear Colleagues,
Please find below, our request for assistance towards the participation of
blind people and the rest of the disabled population in Zimbabwe in the
ongoing constituion-making process. Please help us in any way you possibly
can so that we enable the blind people and the rest of the disabled
community to meaningfully contribute towards the governance of our country.
For any clarification or further information that may be required, please
contact me firectly via my email given above.
Very best wishes.
Kudzai Shava (M.A, B.Ed, Dip.Ed, Certi.Ed)
*PROPOSAL FOR THE FULL PARTICIPATION OF BLIND CITIZENS OF ZIMBABWE IN THE
CONSTITUTION-MAKING PROCESS AND FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS*
BACKGROUND
By the very nature of their impairment, Blind people are one of the most
excluded and marginalised subsections of the Zimbabwean population. Of the
approximately 140,000 visually impaired people in Zimbabwe, it is believed
that between 70,000 and 80,000 people use Braille as a means of reading and
writing. Regrettably, there is no meaningful provision for Braille services
either from Government agencies/institutions or the NGO sector hence, visually
impaired people are largely less informed on and excluded from almost all
programmes and activities that all other citizens ordinarily participate in
and have access to. They are systematically denied the right to information
precisely because materials are always provided in a format that is both
inappropriate and inaccessible to them. However, it is clear that as the new
constitution is being crafted in Zimbabwe, visually impaired people have a
right to be fully involved so that they can actively participate in this
process at all levels of its development from an informed position like all
other citizens. As the consultation phase of the constitution-making process
is being concluded, it is extremely vital that the involvement of disabled
people is stepped up, and is guaranteed by their active engagement
throughout the process. It is in view of this that we are seeking funding in
order to ensure that a substantial amount of materials relating to the
constitution-making process is produced in Braille for the benefit of blind
citizens, and that these materials are made available at designated
points/centres in the 71 districts of the country where the blind people can
easily access them. This funding we are seeking will also enable our
organisation, the Zimbabwe Disabled People's Training and education Trust,
to carry out three tcritical actions.
First, the Trust intends to produce the draft constitution in Braille to
enable the blind people in Zimbabwe to read and understand the issues and
provisions in the draft constitution before they make their decision to vote
for or against it in the forthcoming referendum. We propose to produce 710
Braille copies of the draft constitution so as to have at least 10 copies
for each of the 71 districts. Second, the Trust intends to carry out an
intensive voter education campaign targeted at blind people in particular
and the rest of the disabled population in the 71 districts of the country,
with special emphasis on the referendum on the draft constitution, and their
right to vote for candidates of their own choice as well as their right to
stand as candidates and be voted for in the forthcoming national elections.
It is our hope and belief that These two actions will inevitably ensure the
full participation and inclusion of blind people and the rest of the
disabled population in the governance of the country.
It is in light of this that the Zimbabwe Disabled People's Training and
Education Trust wishes to raise funds amounting to 60,000 U.S dollars for
the Braille production of the draft constitution and 30,000 U.S dollars for
voter education targeted at blind people as well as the rest of the disabled
population of Zimbabwe. The voter education programme will involve the
holding of education/training workshops for disabled people in each of the
71 districts of the country. We are therefore kindly requesting for your
support towards this noble cause.
________________End of message________________
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