LOCAL journalists have been challenged to change their perception and use the correct terminology when reporting on disability issues.
Speaking during a media and disability capacity building workshop held in Harare recently, Federation of Organisation of Disabled People in Zimbabwe national director Leonard Marange said there is need to influence policy change when reporting issues to do with persons with disability.
“We feel there is a serious gap in terms of media coverage on disability issues, I would call it inclusive development. We are trying to bridge that gap by capacitating those from media houses to appreciate disability issues and use the right terminology in their reporting,” said Marange.
“We are not happy with the narratives at times that we find in the media concerning persons with disabilities. And the motive for writing their stories in most cases is anchored on charity and the medical appreciation of disability.”
Banking his hope on the enactment of a policy on disability inclusive development he added: “Our government signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2013, and as part of efforts to domesticate that, they also launched the National Disability Policy.
“So the coming in of the National Disability Policy ahead of the enabling legal framework for us was akin to putting the cart before the horse. So we are expecting the government, the new government, the new parliament to expedite the enactment of the persons with disabilities bill into law, to enact it into law. That is the major business that we expect.”
