By Phesheya Ian Kunene
MANZINI – It’s time for the government and NGOs to take the conversation to the people, literally.
That was the call from Federation of Organisations of Disabled Persons in Swaziland (FODSWA) President Sipho Makama, who on Wednesday heated up the second day of the FODSWA National Congress 2024–2025 with a passionate plea for more inclusive service delivery.
Speaking at The George Hotel, where the three-day congress is being held, Makama called for a paradigm shift in how services are offered to persons with disabilities.
“We must ensure no one is left behind, not in cities, not in the rural areas,” he told the room packed with stakeholders from government ministries, civil society, DPOs and development partners.
Makama said the congress was not just about validating FODSWA’s strategic plan but also about capacitating persons with disabilities with accurate information on HIV/AIDS, human rights, and inclusion, especially for youth and children living with disabilities.
Funded by the UNPRPD, the workshop is running under the theme “Strengthening the Inclusion and Coordination of Disability in Eswatini” as part of a national programme coordinated by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Disability.
The aim is clear, to enhance coordination and mainstream disability rights across all sectors.
“The biggest challenge we face is access,” Makama stressed. “Government and organisations must bring services to our communities. We cannot keep expecting people with disabilities in remote areas to travel long distances just to access basic information or services. That is neither fair nor inclusive.”
He added that rural disability inclusion should not be a footnote in development conversations but the main agenda.
“We want to see more mobile outreach, community-based disability services, and most importantly, the involvement of persons with disabilities in the design and implementation of those services,” he said.
Meanwhile, civil society voices added more fuel to the discussion. CANGO Director Thembinkosi Dlamini, who presented on building a resilient civil society, said the disability sector needed smarter advocacy and stronger collaboration to thrive.
“It’s time we stop working in silos. Let’s build inclusive ecosystems that centre empowerment and sustainability,” he urged.
Deliswa Maphanga, a representative of a child-focused disability organisation, applauded the congress for its inclusive structure. “This initiative is working directly towards its mandate. The presentations, the panel discussions, the recognition of all voices, it’s creating a space where real change can begin,” she said.
FODSWA’s congress has been praised for uniting DPOs and stakeholders under one roof with a mission: to reimagine what disability inclusion can look like in Eswatini. With input from across the country, the federation hopes to use the validated strategic plan as a roadmap to a more inclusive and empowered future.
The congress wraps up on Wednesday, but its message is clear, inclusive service delivery starts where people live, not where offices sit.
(Courtesy Pics)
