Visually impaired people in Zambia demand an apology from Education Minister

From Lusaka Times in Zambia:

Calls for Education Minister Dora Siliya (pictured) to apologize over her remarks she passed recently have continued heating up with some visually impaired individuals saying the people with disability feel threatened by the MMD government’s stance on the blind.

Recently Ms. Siliya was quoted by the media as saying only a blind person can fail to tell or explain what Government is doing in the country.

She was referring to remarks by Mongu Catholic Diocese Bishop Paul Duffy, suggesting that the people of Western province wanted a change of government due to lack of development in the province.

The latest call comes from the Zambia Federation of Disability Organizations (ZAFOD) which claims that the statement by Ms Siliya is agitating, annoying and discomforting.

Organization Human Rights Manager Wamundila Waliuya said the statement by the Education Minister was demeaning and derogatory to the blind.

Mr Waliuya noted that Ms Siliya’s statement has sent a wrong signal to the Zambians saying it meant that the blind do not appreciate development.