Disability-inclusive tools for disaster risk reduction
MOSA MAOENG
MASERU – Mokhethoaneng constituency legislator, Mokhothu Makhalanyane, says his envisaged Public Participation Bill will allow for the broader participation of disabled persons in disaster risk reduction – actively involving them in the planning, preparation, and response efforts for potential disasters. Makhalanyane believes legislated, provisions of the Bill are bound to ensure that the needs of people living with disability are considered and addressed to mitigate risks and promote their safety during emergencies.
This forms part of what is widely referred to Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction, and emphasises meaningful participation through accessible communication and tailored strategies to overcome barriers faced by disabled individuals. Makhalanyane, who is also the National Assembly Portfolio Committees Chairperson of Chairs, said he sought to file the Public Participation Bill of 2024 as a Private Members’ Bill in November last year.
He said enactment of the Bill is the only conduit that could be used to respond to challenges faced by people living with disability in light of reducing their exposure to risk during disasters. He noted that there is currently no national law that focuses on such issues, despite provision in the Constitution – Section 20 – which protects each citizen’s right of participation in government and public affairs.
Makhalanyane argues that enactment of the Bill would allow activist and lobby groups such as the Lesotho National Federation of Organisations of the Disabled (LNFOD) to make meaningful contributions and impact in encompassing the views of the disabled in the proposed law. “We cannot expect any kind of participation of disabled persons in reducing their exposure to risk during disasters, if we do not have this law.
We will not draft new laws or amend old ones without engaging youth, women and people with disability. We are working towards making sure that all parties are involved in issues that affect them,” Makhalanyane said.
Makhalanyane’s proposed Bill seeks for parliament to promulgate a law to allow and create a conducive environment for citizens and entities to properly and fully participate in the social and cultural life of their respective communities.
The legislator’s views are informed by a perception from groups of disabled persons that people with disability have over the years been left out of plans and implementation when it comes to disaster risk reduction (DRR) programmes.
LNFOD director, Advocate Nkhasi Sefuthi, was unrelenting, at a recent Disaster Management Authority (DMA)-hosted panel discussion in Maseru, that people with disability face challenges such as stigma, discrimination and a lack of policies and programmes on DRR – while also lacking resources in DRR.
The DMA held the discussions as part of their larger National Dialogue on DRR from January 29 to 30.
Sefuthi observed that people living with disability are oftentimes, and historically, considered sick and are always stigmatised. He said this affects the way the country implements policies, even those that affect the directly.
He said: “Plans and programmes mostly implemented in the country often exclude people with disability, and access to information on those is also one of the main challenges.”
He sadly recalled a regrettable incident during Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in which a person with hearing impairment was brutally assaulted by law enforcement officers for breaching the then set curfew, only to learn later that the victim had hearing impairment and information on the curfew had not been communicated to him
With this example Advocate Sefuthi drove home the need for people with disability to be represented properly in forums that interrogate and decide on national issues prior to implementation. He noted this requires finances in terms of resources, highlighting the need for government to allocate such financial resources.
On the other hand, National Association of the Deaf Lesotho (NADL) chairperson, Letšekha Ntlale, speaking in an interview with Public Eye this week confirmed that persons living with disability are indeed left behind in terms of risk and danger management issues. He said there is no participation on their part and that there are numerous communication barriers.
Ntlale noted that they do not receive information about some of the issues. He said they are, sometimes, invited to attend some of the forums that discuss pertinent issues but fail to participate in dialogues because of communication barriers.
“We are not acquainted with some of these things, such as DRR, and there is a serious lack of access to information. As we speak now, I do not have in-depth information on DRR and what is expected, how am I expected to know, contribute or disseminate whatever information I might receive to my colleagues?” he asked.
