The Pamoja SADC Disability Conference, attended by over 500 representatives of Disabled Peoples Organisations, has adopted a declaration advocating the inclusion of people with disabilities into ICT society.

Pamoja is a Swahili word which means "coming together".

The opening and closing sessions of the conference were attended by SADC ministers. The conference, which was held over the past two days, was aimed at creating a platform for dialogue among people with disabilities from the SADC region in preparation for the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) to be held in Tunisia, Tunis from November 16 - 18.

Delivering a keynote address Sunday, Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, said that ICT plays a pivotal role in economic growth in the whole of Africa, and we need ICT regional collaboration in Africa.

Speaking at the conference, Communications Minister, Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, mentioned that the WSIS Declaration of Principles emphasizes the importance of the involvement of both government and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICT for development.

She further mentioned that ICT should allow instantaneous access to information and knowledge by all people with disabilities.

The declaration -- The PAMOJA Declaration -- accepted that there was a lack of awareness of the needs and the role of people with disabilities in respect of ICT, and the cost implications associated with this have excluded active and meaningful participation of this sector.

In addition the declaration noted with concern that people with disabilities continue to be excluded from ICT developments and innovations, and resolved to ensure that access to information and knowledge for people with disabilities is increased, and delivered in an accessible and affordable manner.

"People with disabilities face physical obstacles in accessing public services, as well as telecommunications, because they are often not considered during the development phase of these solutions," says minister Matsepe-Casaburri.