The Sunday News
Amanda Ncube and Dickson Mangena, Sunday News Reporters
THE Braillle section of the Bulawayo Public Library has launched an empowerment programme that will see visually impaired people having more access to information and participating fully economically, socially and even politically.
The programme seeks to re-equip and upgrade the Braille section of the Bulawayo Public Library. The conference witnessed the appointment of Sulumani Chimbetu and his gospel musician counterpart Clarence Gurura as goodwill ambassadors.
Speaking at the Press conference Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Harare Metropolitan Province Miriam Chikukwa said the occasion was important since it empowered visually impaired people with access to information.
“I am honoured to be with you here today as we launch the concept of accessible library for our visually impaired citizens.
This historic event will enable visually impaired people to effectively participate in the economic, social and political spheres of country,” said Minister Chikukwa.
Minister Chikukwa said in most communities poverty was not only triggered by lack of money and any other socio-economic issues but also by lack of information accessibility.
“Poverty in many communities is due to, among other issues, a lack of information accessibility. Today we are pleased that people with impaired vision will now have the same access to information as the rest of us,” she said.
“They will now be well placed to play a meaningful role in the economic and social improvement and also play a part in our political arena. Visually impaired people have to date been contributing immensely to various economic sectors, in spite of the challenges around information access,” said Minister Chikukwa.
She also said that: “Accessible libraries will allow visually impaired people to effectively contribute their talent towards the goals and objectives of the country’s economic blueprint the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset).”
Minister Chikukwa said apart from Braille material, visually impaired people needed access to various communication technologies.
Minister Chikukwa expressed her excitement on the appointment of musicians Sulumani and Clarence as goodwill ambassadors and thanked the youthful musicians for accepting to be part of the noble national cause.
