Conflict prevention and management for selected disability organizations in Zambia: voices of stakeholders on the slogan nothing about us without us: a study of selected disabled people’s organisations in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia.
This study examined challenges Persons with disabilities face through the use of the slogan nothing about us without us in Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces. The aim was to explore the particular factors which appeared to determine views of stakeholders on the use of the slogan in addressing disability issues in Zambia. The study inquired into the perceptions of conflicts created by the use of the slogan nothing about us without us by stakeholders in disability movement in Zambia. The objectives for this study were to establish conflicts created by the use of the slogan “nothing about us without us, and to determine views of stakeholders on the use of the slogan in addressing disability issues in Zambia, establish challenges persons with disabilities face through the use of the slogan nothing about us without us and determine questions put or plan in the prevention of management of conflicts in disability organizations. A mixed study methodology was adopted (that is involving both qualitative and quantitative analysis), interviews, focus group discussions and or analysis of relevant documents with 36 participants from selected DPOs, Government agencies, Ministries and other organisations working in the area of Disability Management drawn from two provinces namely Copperbelt and Lusaka Provinces. The data were collected from 36 participants, distributed as follows: 10 head of departments in Government ministries working with disability stakeholders, 6 chairpersons in disability Organizations, 10 Women with Disabilities, 5 youths with disabilities and 5 managers in Zambia Agencies for persons with disabilities or Government Ministry/National Rehabilitation Centre/National Fund for Persons with Disabilities. The participants in the study were obtained using purposive sampling procedure. The data were collected using questionnaires on disability focal point persons, focus group discussions with managers and interview schedules on head of departments and chairpersons of disabled peoples Organizations. Other research instruments used were the observation schedules and Centre’s official documents which gathered information on the Centre’s rehabilitation facilities and activities among others. The qualitative data were analyzed thematically by comparing and categorizing participants’ responses. The data collected using interview guides was analyzed using qualitative methods while data collected using questionnaires was quantitatively analyzed by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and excel. The findings of the study revealed that failure to prevent and manage conflicts has resulted in increased conflicts among selected stakeholders to clearly distinguish the role of disability Government Agencies and that of disabled peoples Organisations as a result it has affected effective management of Government institutions charged with the responsibility to address the welfare of persons with disabilities in Zambia. It also revealed that there has been considerable attempts by selected stakeholders to raise awareness on the role of Government disability agencies and that of Disabled People’s Organisation since 1996 but because of conflicts caused by selected leaders of disabled peoples Organisations these attempted have failed to prevent and manage conflicts and this research intend to investigate causes. It is clear that failure to prevent and manage conflicts has resulted in persons with disabilities in Zambia face a lot of problems in accessing quality service delivery despite Government efforts to change from Zambia Council for the Handicapped to Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities in 1996. The findings of the study also revealed that the perceptions of conflicts created by the use of nothing about us without us slogan were diverse, but mostly influenced by the centres prevailing circumstances. Many considered it in terms of promoting self-representation on issues to do with the welfare of persons with disabilities. However, some defined it in terms of having person with a disability to run and manage centres activities and programmes. In terms of distinctive features, the more effective use of the slogan nothing about us without us was characterized by moderately large conflicts among disabled people themselves.
People with disabilities--Services for--Zambia--Periodicals., People with disabilities--Zambia.
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