Disabled fall by the wayside in Parliament

Tuesdays unveiling of the four Specially Elected Members of Parliament, has put paid to the hopes of the physically challenged for a representative in the National Assembly to articulate their needs.

Kitso Mokaila, Kenneth Matambo, Eric Molale and Unity Dow were chosen by majority as Specially Elected legislators in an election that quickly established the dichotomy between the ruling party and the opposition. Prior to the vote, Federation of the Disabled coordinator, Shirley Keoagile had said they were denied a representative in the previous Parliament “under the pretext that Letlhakeng-Lephephe MP Liakat Kablay, was their man”.

Kablay was returned to Parliament over the weekend with 5,265 votes against 4,996 of his closest rival. “Not even once have we heard him saying anything about the disabled. We are not happy with him and we ask to be given a chance in Parliament,” she said.

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