Protect people with disabilities in MJ—Fedoma
Federation of Disability Organisations in Malawi (Fedoma) has urged group village heads from traditional authorities (T/As) Njema and Chikumbu in Mulanje District to protect people with disabilities from violence.
The traditional leaders gathered at Muloza and Mulanje Mission primary schools where committees representing people with disabilities engaged them on the escalating cases of violence against people with disabilities.
gathered during the event
Fedoma project coordinator George Denja said they are working to advance justice for people with disabilities who are being killed, raped and wronged in various ways.
Mulanje district social welfare assistant Ishmael Hollege Mwanapiye said his office is prepared to work with the chiefs to protect people with disabilities.
“We are happy that the village heads have welcomed this idea and that they are ready to tell their people about the evils of perpetrating violence against people with disabilities.
“The problem is serious here in Mulanje but people are not revealing names of perpetrators to police,” he said.
Njema Area Disability Forum (ADF) chairperson Jean Muleso pleaded with the chiefs to involve people with disabilities in development work.
“We should learn to care for people with disabilities. Therefore, we urge the chiefs to register them as we want to end injustices they are facing,” she said.
Fedoma is working with Parents of Disabled Children Association in Malawi (Podcam) and University of Malawi’s Chancellor College’s Law Department to bring access to justice to people with disabilities. n
