Sibangani Nyathi defies disability
Sibangani Nyathi defies disability
May 31, 2023
Choice News Africa Correspondent
Sibangani is a young man who has defied all the odds of disability, after attending several trainings under Nkomwa Foundation Trust, around Matabeleland South.
The following is what he narrated to Choice News Africa, with pictorial evidence, showcasing his prowess and also that disability is not inability.
Sibangani Nyathi’s goat project doing well. Choice News Africa
My name is Sibangani Nyathi aged 37 a family man with 2 children. I am a person with disability based in Ward 13 Mawane village- Garanyemba in Gwanda. I am a farmer focusing much on poultry project and goat rearing.
I joined Nkomwa Foundation Trust in 2022. NFT conducted disability sensitisation programme in our ward and was selected by the community as a Disability Champion for Ward 13.
I was capacitated by NFT officers in understanding the disability issues so I become a vibrant advocate in my ward as I executed my duties well.
In the same year 2022, NFT management seconded me to Legal Resources Foundation as a Community Rights Resource Person (CRRP). I went through the interviews and I succeeded.
The successful chicken project. Choice News Africa
I was then further capacitated on disability issues through workshops conducted by Federation of Disabled People in Bulawayo through NFT.
These workshops broadened my knowledge base about disability. I am currently using the same information to train fellow persons with disabilities in my area of jurisdiction.
In 2023, NFT further seconded me to National Aids Council as a Peer Educator under a Peerled Model on HIV/Aids. Under this project, I am working with both, persons with disabilities and people without disabilities in fighting HIV and AIDS in our community.
From my experience in working with NFT I have learnt a lot of things concerning issues to do with disabilities. Of course I have a disability, but I didn’t understand it much. I used to view myself as different from other people, but NFT taught me that I am no different from any other person.
Now I can even encourage my fellow PWDs not to look down upon themselves. In Ward 13 NFT managed to identify a lot of PWDs, some of them we didn’t even know about them.
In my community, I have been selected a School Development Committee Vice Secretary at Paye Primary School, a chairperson for PWDs in the Ward, vice secretary on the (Village Development Committee). Persons with Disabilities are now recognised as human beings with equal rights and these appointments in decision making committees in the ward is much commendable.
I would like to thank NFT in particular Mr Pick Nkomwa for the full support they have given me to be where I am now wearing all these jackets. He is an inspiration to us and very bold and dedicated to issues that affect the disability community.
I am also involved in goat production and chicken raring, a project that has inspired a number of both young and old.