A Friendship That Changed a Life:
In a world where people too often wait until it’s too late to appreciate those who have touched their lives, I believe we must normalize showing gratitude while we and those we love are still here. Today, I want to share the story of a man who has been a guiding light in my life…
Disability Talk with Mukoma A: The Joshua Malinga that I know
Following the death of Honourable Malinga who was a special advisor on disability to the Zimbabwean President, a lot of positive things have been said about how he impacted the development of disability rights in Zimbabwe and abroad. My shoes are too small to discuss things at that level but I will instead reflect on…
Pamoja First Episode Transcript .
Hello everyone and welcome to this podcast, Pamoja: On the Wings of Hope. Pamoja is a Swahili word which means together and here we say: “hope is our greatest currency and we would allow no one to steal it from us. This weekly podcast is brought to you by your host Abraham Mateta, also known…
The New Jairos Jiri: A Discombobulating Tragedy
Warning! What I am about to narrate may be very unsettling. I was seated together with a group of friends from college watching television when normal programming was disrupted by a very noisy jingle with the following words: “Driven by the desire to see an equal and inclusive society,, we are pleased to make the…
Spare a Thought for Vengai’s dream
Introduction: There are times when I feel very powerless. In such moments, maybe Mike Oliver of blessed memory would have said “if I had a hammer”. The activist in me is in agony after reading this article. As a lawyer, my first instinct would have been to write a case commentary but unfortunately, this case…
My Blind Life in a Sighted World: Proud of My White can
Yesterday was the international White Can Safety day. Growing up before going to school, I used to hear that blind people use walking sticks to find their way. I however never understood the logic behind the use of a walking stick and at home I just knew my environment. Of course, many times, I would…
William the great untrained teacher
Last week, when I was in South Africa, I was among some who were recognised by the South African National Council of the Blind for the work we are doing in advancing the rights and interests of blind and partially sighted people in Africa. Such recognition causes me to think about many people who have…
My Blind Life in a Sighted World: Educated and illiterate?
As a matter of principle, I have found attempts to teach me to use a pen very oppressive. I find it quite discomfiting that with all my education, the sighted world continues to treat me as an illiterate person.
My blind life in a sighted world: Just like all the others?)
One of the things which I grew up struggling with was a constant reminder from my parents, teachers and the society at large that I was “just like all the others”. Sometimes, this created in me the desire to indeed be like others even if it meant subjecting myself to conditions which were almost synonymous…
Sugar-coating Oppression
If the disability movement in Africa should be reinvigorated, then it must guard against euphemisms such as “differently abled persons”.
