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Ending Poverty Through Ubuntu



Author(s)

Sharon Handongwe

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DOI:10.17265/2159-5542/2017.11.002

St. John of God-Holy Family Rehabilitation Centre, Monze, Zambia

A study conducted in 2011 showed that the “rural poverty rates in Zambia have remained very high, at 80%, over the past decade and a half, whilst urban poverty rates have declined, from 49% in 1991 to 34% in 2006”. This is from a population of approximately 15, 580,199. Specific accelerators are therefore required in the form of policy changes and targeted rural investments if Zambia is to achieve the target of reducing poverty levels by half in 2015. Extreme poverty in Zambia is concentrated in rural areas. Rural poverty is due to limited access to physical and social infrastructures, such as roads, electricity, and medical facilities, which impede development. In the quest to achieve the millennium development goals, the 6th national development plan for the Zambian government which has a theme “sustained economic growth and poverty reduction” was developed offering objectives, strategies, and programs driving towards the achievement of the MDG’s. The objectives indicated therein are:

(1) Infrastructure development;

(2) Economic growth and diversification;

(3) Rural investment and poverty reduction; and

(4) Enhance human development.

It is in the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP) that the government indicates objectives, strategies, and programmes targeted at improving the welfare of the Persons With Disability (PWD) under the heading “Disability and Development”. However, a number of barriers will need to be overcome if Zambia is to be free from poverty especially rural poverty and most of all among persons with disabilities. When Holy Family Centre (HFC) started offering Community Based Rehabilitation services in various targeted communities in line with World Health Organization guidelines the HFC, realised the differences in the social economic situation of people in rural areas as contrasted to those in the urban centres, which was even more pronounced among Persons with Disabilities. This prompted the team to try and find ways of addressing the high poverty levels among persons with disabilities where approximately 70% of the clients have been poor. An inclusive approach by all sectors has been the strategy that HFC is advocating for so that the PWDs are not left behind in the development process. Most emphasised is the concept of ubuntu in which all people are viewed as equal and treated like wise in their respective communities. The government of Zambia in its effort to address the issues that surround Disability like most countries took the following steps along with other countries in the world: Zambia signed United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2008 and ratified it in 2010; The government now also has a Disability Act #6 of 2012 following other policies that had earlier been instituted. Implementation of the Community Based Rehabilitation as an effort to meet most of the needs of the persons with disabilities ensured that other than focusing on health alone, the team took interest to address other aspects that affect any given individual. The Human development Report 1996 of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) identifies employment as the main bridge between economic growth and opportunities for human development. With the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in mind and the CBR program, Holy Family Centre realizes that for the MDG on reduction of poverty to be met or halved by 2015, there is need to explore other possible options other than employment if we are to have self sustainable and economically secure families, especially persons with disabilities. The poverty situation among the disabled in Zambia is particularly pronounced. This category requires specifically targeted interventions if the poverty levels are to be reduced significantly. As a way to contribute to the wellbeing of PWDs, HFC at local level is engaged in activities that are driven by the need to empower PWD’s economically, as well as helping them realise the need for them to be included and be heard at all levels beginning in their families and communities. HFC is using some strategies, such as: (1) raising awareness; (2) advocacy; (3) agriculture; (4) skills development; and (5) community responsibility.

Raising awareness. Raising awareness on the provisions of the Zambian Disability Act of 2012, UNCRPD and the Optional protocol and other relevant documents as applicable to Zambia and the continent.

Advocacy. As a centre we are now working with different organizations in the effort to get various services offered by the other organizations which as HFC we cannot offer. These include the education sector, health, the local town council and other relevant government departments. The government through the social welfare department has a social cash transfer program in targeted districts and this is one of the areas of intervention to have more Persons with disability on the program.

Agriculture. The government of Zambia has a food security pack program to which most Zambians have benefited, the challenge has been to include the persons with disabilities on such a program. It is on such programmes and with other private providers and stakeholders that HFC is linking persons with disabilities to for sustained livelihood projects at household levels thereby enriching the communities.

Skills development. The need for persons with disability to be trained in skills is eminent and its for this reason the centre is considering opening up a skills training centre.

Community responsibility. Key to the success of any project is community responsibility and involvement and it is that the team builds into the members of the community at every chance given so that we achieve the desired effect together.

Particular attention should be paid to entrepreneurial development, timely access to capital investment (such as farming inputs is the case for Zambia), access to information on appropriate technology, development of skills for processing activities and promoting collaborative efforts among operators and ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left out as we press towards reducing poverty levels in Zambia by 2015.

ubuntu, disability, poverty, development