Visually impaired slam lack of consultation on banknotes

Members of the visually impaired community, particularly those living in remote areas, say they are still facing challenges handling Namibian banknotes following the launch of new banknotes last year.

In an interview with Namibian Sun, Moses Nghipandulwa, president of the Federation of the Visually Impaired, expressed concern that the new banknotes lack high-quality tactile features that would allow users to distinguish between them easily.

He criticised the lack of prior consultation with the visually impaired community before the rollout of the new notes.

Activists say the situation leaves visually impaired individuals at risk of being scammed, among many other concerns.

“The Bank of Namibia was supposed to engage with rural communities to gather input and suggestions before introducing banknotes with different features that many of us cannot identify,” he said.

He called on government and all sectors to ensure that people with disabilities are included in decision-making processes, rather than being sidelined.

“If we had been included in the decision-making process, the impact could have been minimised," he stressed.

"The government often speaks of inclusivity in all programmes, but fails to implement it effectively because they lack the knowledge and capacity. Inclusion of individuals with disabilities in decision-making is crucial,” he added.

Nghipandulwa said they had conveyed their concerns to the central bank but were told that no significant changes could be made at this stage.

He added that the bank had provided training for 14 individuals to help train their peers, but said the initiative has yet to be implemented.

“With only 14 trained individuals tasked with educating others, it's impractical. Why should this responsibility fall solely on us? We urge the Bank of Namibia to provide funding and clearer guidance on how to scale the training efforts. A mere 14 individuals cannot train thousands,” he emphasised.

He added that discussions still have to take place with the bank to gain clarity on the initiative.

Left behind

One of the trainers, Hafeni Shigwedha, said although they have received some training, many individuals still struggle to identify the banknotes.

He expressed concern about organising workshops, noting that some individuals might be overlooked.

He recounted a recent incident involving a visually impaired person, who wished to remain anonymous, who was allegedly scammed by a family member.

This individual was supposed to receive N$1 000 but was only given five N$50 notes totalling just N$250.

“Such incidents occur frequently in rural areas, particularly among family members, where victims feel powerless to speak up because they depend on them,” he said.

Shigwedha underscored the need for additional funds to support the training of visually impaired individuals. With only one workshop held annually, he noted the urgent necessity of incorporating more training sessions this year.

He also pointed out that the tactile features designed to help identify banknotes could wear off over time, leaving many visually impaired individuals unable to distinguish between notes.

Suggestions

Frans Sinengela, a radio journalist with Eagle FM, reported that he can easily identify banknotes, as he was born blind.

However, he noted that the challenges mainly affect those who are visually impaired. He confirmed that there are notable differences between the new and old banknotes, complicating identification for those with visual impairments.

Although he appreciates the Bank of Namibia's efforts, he suggested that the bank consider sponsoring an app to aid in the identification of banknotes in the future.

When approached for a response, Bank of Namibia spokesperson Kazembire Zemburuka said the tactile features are designed to assist visually impaired citizens.

He explained that the fading of tactile lines on banknotes is a normal part of the banknote life cycle.

“Just like previous series, unfit notes are withdrawn from circulation at a certain stage of their life cycle,” he said.