It was not his first time to encounter such mishaps. He one day went for an interview in an office in Dar es Salaam. He was repulsed at the reception by being told that he came the wrong day because it was not the day to give alms to beggars.
It was not until he told her that he was called for an interview, that the receptionist allowed her in with apology.
Fredrick Msigallah (43) a master’s degree holder is an Advocacy and Capacity Building Officer at Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT).
His disability is actually the effect of polio at the age of five. Although his parents tried to find treatment for him in various hospitals, it all was in vein. So they decided to accept the reality.
His success has been much contributed to the great support from his parents and relatives who saw him as just an ordinary person other and provided him with every basic need particularly education. He is now in a frontline fighting for the rights of people with disabilities (PWDs).
Persons with Disability Act, 2010 defines disability as the loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in the normal life of the community on an equal level with others due to physical, mental or social factors.
And a person with disability is a person with a physical, intellectual, sensory or mental impairment and whose functional capacity is limited by encountering attitudinal, environmental and institutional barriers.
In Tanzania, it is estimated around 4.5 million people live with disability. For decades PWDs face myriad challenges such as abuse, lack of education, illiteracy, and unemployment and despite the available international law and national laws that protect their rights, the implementation of such laws is at a very low stage.
Just recently, CCBRT conducted a one day journalists disability awareness training in Dar es Salaam where a lot of issues regarding the rights of PWDs were discussed and in the end the journalists were asked not only to be sensitive when reporting about PWDs but raise awareness to the society that PWDs are like other people, they are the part of the society and should be given equal opportunities in all spheres of life.
The training was centered on four main things including society’s perception, myth and misconception on PWDs; language regarding PWDs; disability policy, legislation and international law on PWDs; and the role of media in promoting and protecting the rights of PWDs.
Another CCBRT Advocacy Officer- a lawyer who is also a person with visual disability, Amon Anastaz said due to negative perception on disability, PWDs face challenges as denial of employment, economic marginalization. They are regarded as people who cannot contribute to anything, are dependent, and always wait to be helped.
Additionally, many parents prevent their children with physical disabilities from going to school due to myths and misconceptions on disability which on the other hand is the main cause for disability since various communalities consider it as a result of witchcraft and take their disabled children to witch doctors and as a result of late medical assistance. The problem becomes resistant to treatment and hence disability.
The same reason of negative perception towards PWDs, Msigallah said, has much contributed to negative language regarding PWDs which is commonly used to refer when speaking whether to PWDs or about them.
He said that people are calling them using humiliating names such as nutty, bound on wheelchair, blind, mute and so many others and sadly even the media use the same words to report on PWDs.
On the part of disability policy, legislation and international law, Msigallah said Tanzania is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of people with disabilities (UNCRPD) and also various policies and legislations in the country have been adopted but the PWDs are still facing many hardships.
He said that the National Policy on Disability of 2004 and the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2010 form a good foundation that manages all issues regarding the rights of PWDs.
However, the implementation faces many challenges, threatening the rights for the PWDs.
The officer noted that the two laws categorically emphasize on the equal rights to education, health services, employment, information and communication, cooperation in economy, respect, ability to reach all areas and good standard of life.
But such rights he said are not fully given to the people who are physically challenged. PWDs are still facing challenges in various issues concerning their welfare especially education. According to the officer there is insufficient equipment to facilitate the PWDs to study.
Anastaz added that PWDs do not enjoy the right to information and communication as they lack the equipment and translators to assist them.
They also face challenge in accessing health services as they usually get humiliated by health providers, while health centers’ infrastructure pose obstacles for them to reach the areas.
The report: Employment of persons with disabilities in Dar es Salaam Tanzania conducted by CCBRT to assess the proportion of employed PWDs in education, health and private sectors indicates that among all 24,552 teachers surveyed from all learning institutions in Dar es Salaam, Immediately, Lindi, Mbeya, Singida and Tabora only 519 equivalent to 2.1 percent were PWDs.
In Health sectors, among all 738 health employees surveyed in Dar es Salaam, only 17 equivalent to 2.3 percent were PWDs and in Private sector, the survey associated 72 companies in Arusha, Mwanza, Kilimanjaro, Morogoro and Tanga and among all 20,568 employees surveyed, only 86 equivalent to 0.4 percent were PWDs.
The report also indicates that there is gender imbalance of employment opportunities to PWDs as men with disabilities are more employed than that of their counterparts and that the working environment are not friendly to PWDs.
The report finally suggested and recommended that the government should go beyond enactment of legislations on employment of PWDs through intensifying awareness raising efforts towards disability policies and legislations to public and private sector’s employers as an attempt to encourage them employ people with disabilities (PWDs).
PWDs should be encouraged to apply for formal employment opportunities and that there should be gender equality.
All working barriers such as lack of lifts and ramps in office buildings, equipments, and reliable transport to and from the office should be removed and companies should be sensitized to have disability policies and legislations in workplaces that oversee the employment of PWDs and penalties for those who do not comply with them must be formed.
The law is there and so are numerous regulations that seek to ensure PWDs are always given due recognition and equal right in accessing public facilities, but the most important thing is how the society perceives them and caters to their needs. This is about setting in process a turnaround in mindsets, so that the people with disability in our midst do not feel left out or held down by their disabilities.
Media should be in a frontline on this. The society too should realize that PWDs are part of the society; they also can contribute the same or even more in the society development if given opportunity to education and empowered to work.
“When my family took me to school there were some discouragements from my community, they were even telling my dad to not waste his time and money taking me to school as I will just be useless but thanks to my dad, he never listened to them but kept on paying for my studies and was always there to support and encourage me”,
“I have completed my studies, I have a very good job, I am really very happy because as for now I am the one who provides basic needs to my family and I am now supporting my younger brothers and sisters who are not disabled for their education. Actually, now the villagers are going back to my father and saying: “We are sorry, we were wrong, you have done a great, great thing in supporting this guy to this level”.
“So my daddy sees me like oh, you are everything now, and I am proud of that, because I was dreaming of that – to be able to support not only my life but also the life of my family members and that’s what I am doing now. I am happy about my life and I feel proud to be part of those people fighting for the better life of people with disabilities and that is what I would like to see in the near future, that many people with disabilities have their rights”, Msigallah said.
Under the same sun
Under The Same Sun (UTSS) Fund is a Canadian, Christian charity founded in 2008 by the current CEO, Peter Ash. UTSS is investing significantly within Tanzania to improve the lives of Persons With Albinism (PWA) by establishing a well staffed office and resource center there. Our primary focus is on advocacy and education as well as assisting PWA to access external information, education bursaries, health care and other community supports available to assist with their genetic condition.
Education Scholarship Fund (ESF) offers education grants to keen and dedicated students with albinism demonstrating a need for financial or other schooling assistance. If you are a PWA living in Tanzania and are interested in being sponsored for education, please contact UTSS from their website and your request will be forwarded to their office in Dar es Salaam.
Contact information:
INTRODUCTION: Tanzania Federation of Disabled People's Organisations – SHIVYAWATA has signed a one year contract with “United Nations (UN) Women” on 20 May 2015 to start implementation of the project called “Inclusive Election (Uchaguzi Jumuishi) ”. This project is geared to “Support People with Disabilities" (PWDs) Participation in Political and Electoral Process in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar”.. SHIVYAWATA has partnered with Umoja wa Walemavu Zanzibar (UWZ ) to support implementation of the project in Zanzibar. .
Project Objectives: The specific objectives of this project target three major areas of intervention as follows;
Pictures:: Conference presentation on the obstacles faced by PWDs on inclusive election and recommendations from PWDs.
Dear all,
The Tanzania Federation of Disabled People Organizations – SHIVYAWATA has started implementing the one year project known as “Inclusive Election”. The project is funded by UN Women and has begun in May 2015 and will last on April 2016. The project’s overall aim is to promote and support the electoral and political participation of women and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Tanzania.
SHIVYAWATA is pleased to invite applications for 3 Trainers of Trainees (TOTs) who will be responsible for conducting trainings to Leaders of Disabled People Organizations – DPO and to media practitioners.
For further details please download the attached Terms of Reference (GATE).
All interested parties must submit application letter indicating their skills and experience together with updated curriculum vitae by e-mail before 19 June 2015 at 4:00 p.m. to info@shivyawata.or.tz or submit it by hand directly to the following address:-
Secretary General,
SHIVYAWATA Head Office,
P.O. Box 42984, Kinondoni district, Dar es salaam.
Physical address: Ruhombo Street, Plot no. 367, Kinondoni Vijana, off Mwananyamala road
Note: The deadline for application is very short. So we highly encourage applicants to observe carefully the deadlines for the vacancy.
All applications should clearly indicate title of the consultancy you are applying for.
Women and Persons with Disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.
Dear all,
The Tanzania Federation of Disabled People Organizations – SHIVYAWATA has started implementing the one year project known as “Inclusive Election”. The project is funded by UN Women and has begun in May 2015 and will last on April 2016. The project’s overall aim is to promote and support the electoral and political participation of Women and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Tanzania.
SHIVYAWATA is pleased to invite applications for a consultancy to assist on developing two training manuals for Trainers of Trainees (TOTs).
1. A training manual for training Leaders of Disabled people Organizations – DPOs on some key aspects of political, civic and voter’s education.
2. A training manual to train media practitioners on some key issues on political, civic, voter’s education and PWDs barriers that hinder their effective participation to political processes.
For further details please download the attached Terms of Reference (GATE).
All interested parties must submit application letter indicating their skills and experience together with updated curriculum vitae by e-mail before 17 June 2015 at 4:00 p.m. to info@shivyawata.or.tz or submit it by hand directly to the following address:-
Secretary General,
SHIVYAWATA Head Office,
P.O. Box 42984, Kinondoni district, Dar es salaam.
Physical address: Ruhombo Street, Plot no. 367, Kinondoni Vijana, off Mwananyamala road
Note: The deadline for application is very short. So we highly encourage applicants to observe carefully the deadlines for the vacancy.
All applications should clearly indicate title of the consultancy you are applying for.
Women and Persons with Disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.
Dear all,
The Tanzania Federation of Disabled People Organizations – SHIVYAWATA has started implementing the one year project known as “Inclusive Election”. The project is funded by UN Women and has begun in May 2015 and will last on April 2016. The project’s overall aim is to promote and support the electoral and political participation of women and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Tanzania.
SHIVYAWATA is pleased to invite applications for a consultancy services to facilitate meetings between Persons with Disabilities and National Electoral commission – NEC and Zanzibar Electoral Commission – ZEC.
For further details as in Terms of Reference (GATE) please click download.
All interested parties must submit application letter indicating their skills and experience together with updated curriculum vitae by e-mail before 16 June 2015 at 4:00 p.m. info@shivyawata.or.tz or submit it by hand directly to the following address:-
Secretary General,
SHIVYAWATA Head Office,
P.O. Box 42984, Kinondoni district, Dar es salaam.
Physical address: Ruhombo Street, Plot no. 367, Kinondoni Vijana, off Mwananyamala road
Note: The deadline for application is very short. So we highly encourage applicants to observe carefully the deadline for this vacancy. All applications should clearly indicate title of the consultancy you are applying for.
Women and Persons with Disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.
Workshops to gather input from stakeholders on the process of preparing an alternative report concerning the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Tanzania, from signing with various countries, including Tanzania, on the implementation of the contents of a time tababa on year 2009.
The workshops was held on 27/03/2015 and achieved to gather feedback from various stakeholders from organizations of persons with disabilities as well as stakeholders who represented the State whereby after the completion of the Alternative report, It will be sent to the headquarters of the United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.
Loveness Maliaki (11), a standard four of Osunyai Sombetini primary school , the alleged resemblance to persons with albinism (Albino), was abducted, killed and her private organs removed, her nose and eyes pierced, nose and eyes pierced.
Mother of the deceased, Mary Longo (37), said they found the child having been hidden under the hollow, in an old clay house owned by Henry Ally (58) who was not around at the time of the incidence.
“At the timeshe was coming from school accompanied by her colleagues (who mentioned the suspect) we already know,He followed the children as he drove his bike and he told them that there was money sent to M- Pesa to his phone,"Explained :
"He wanted them to follow him so that they could take the money, and when she refused so he decided to take the deceased by force, lifted her on his bike and left with her, so those who were left came to tell me. "
Police in Geita region have arrested traditional healers 32 in a recent operation conducted to ensure that the killing of the elderly and people with albinism is being seized..
Geita SACP region police commander Joseph said they have arrested traditional healers with different materials that are witchcratf stuffs and dried skins of animals such as lion, leopard and buffalo..
Commander Konyo says now the time has come to ensure onslaught superstitious myths being seized and that the first people to be controlled are traditional healers who practice their activities without considering the rules and regulations set by country.
Commander Konyo has said there is clear evidence proving a close relationship of these killings of elderly people and people with albinism and traditional healers as are the ones who asks their clients for the body parts of Albinos and the ones that call elderly people especially women are witches.
He added that the Police can not be anxious to others when traditional healers are the ones who caused the killings of albino and elderly people and therefore causing people to stop doing their daily activities.
Commander Konyo has said the government will not tolerate traditional healers who mislead the society that this search operation will be conducted in all regions of the mainland in order to make a safe society free from the threat of these killings.
Some people in Geita region have appreciated the government's action by taking legal action to all suspects found guilty to murder arising from superstitions activities..