A SEAT OF DIGNITY IN MUDODILI VILLAGE
A SEAT OF DIGNITY IN MUDODILI VILLAGE
TWO people are seen climbing a hill whilst lifting a wheelchair in Mudodili Village, located in Tekelo Ward of Sinazongwe District in Zambia’s southern Province.
They are heading to the home of Mr. Kalombe Mutembo Siamwiza, a 45-year-old man with a disability. The date is 28 March, 2025 and is exactly 5 years from the time Kalombe survived a road traffic accident that claimed some lives.
Kalombe was identified during a disability registration and certification exercise undertaken by the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities and Disability Rights Watch under the Climate Just Communities (CJC) project implemented by NIRAS with funding from the Scottish Government.
His is a story of resilience and determination, refusing to give up on life even when circumstances around him had nose dived into destitution and squalor. Kalombe underwent a functional assessment and a wheelchair suited to his condition was prescribed by the health experts. He shared his desire to live an independent life once again.
Before 2020, Mr. Siamwiza worked as a truck driver, transporting mostly copper across the southern borders to the export markets.
“I was scheduled to transport copper through the Zimbabwe-Chirundu border one day,” Mr. Siamwiza recalls. “However, we were told that we couldn’t cross at that time and would be informed when it would be possible to do so. Knowing how long such delays could last, I decided to return to Lusaka to be with my family. I traveled in a private vehicle, and along the way, the driver got a call from a client who asked to be picked, without exercising good judgment the driver turned to headback without realizing that a truck was coming down hill resulting in a collision between the small car and the truck trailer. Two people died instantly, and I was seriously injured. I was rushed to the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka for medical attention.”
Mr. Siamwiza speaks of the tragic accident with sorrow in his heart, recalling how his life changed in an instant.
After his discharge from the hospital, Mr. Siamwiza’s brother, Mr. Joseph Siamwiza, took him in, and he has lived with him ever since.
On March 28th, 2025 a team from Disability Rights Watch, Green Living Movement, and the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities surprised Mr. Siamwiza delivered a new wheelchair—specifically designed for the rocky terrain and sandy soil of his village.
“I don’t know how to fully express my gratitude,” said Mr. Siamwiza, overwhelmed with emotion. “For the past year and a few months, I’ve been using a broken wheelchair with only one wheel, making it extremely difficult for me to live independently. With this new wheelchair, I’ll be able to move around freely again and engage in activities like gardening and other income-generating tasks, which was nearly impossible before.”
Mr. Siamwiza was filled with joy by the gesture, especially because the date of receiving his new wheelchair coincided with the same day he was involved in the accident that led to his current disability.
The CJC project has not only ended at providing a wheelchair but has also provided relief food to his household in response to the drought and also provided them with goats to improve their economic situation.
Green Living Movement has sunk a borehole and installed water tanks and water access facilities in his village. It is the desire of the project to ensure this family get the help they need to be more productive through the integrated agriculture intervention which will allocate a parcel of gardening space under the irrigation scheme to Mr Simwanza. The support will include provision of reasonable accommodation measures to enable him live an independent life.
The CJC project provides inclusive solutions to community members such that persons with disabilities are supported to identify their own priorities and propose solutions to their own challenges by eliminating barriers of access.
