The Office of the President has announced that the Office of People with Disabilities (OPD) is now fully operational.
The OPD’s role will be to develop and coordinate the implementation of policies and programs for people with disabilities, guided by the National Policy on Care for People with Disabilities.
It will also liaise with stakeholders, including relevant government ministries and people with disabilities, to implement and administer best practices for the disabled.
In addition, the OPD will be charged with reviewing the Seretse Khama Memorial Fund and ensure that the fund continues to assist the disabled with sustainable income generating projects. Over the years the Seretse Khama Memorial Fund has been assisting with the provision of appliances such as wheelchairs to people with disabilities.
The new coordinator of the OPD is Thomas Motingwa. He has been actively involved in the operations of various organizations of people with disabilities, amongst them Young Christian Association (YCA), Gaborone Disabled Persons Society, Paralympics Association of Botswana (PAB), and Botswana Council of People with Disabilities. He was nominated as a councilor in the Gaborone City Council in 1999.
The OPD has already helped 5 people with disabilities to find employment at Choppies Superstores across the country. The Office is currently working with health facilities around the country to locate and develop a data base of people with disabilities.
