Lady without hands uses feet to run thriving business in Eswatini

MANZINI, Eswatini

A disabled lady in the landlocked southern African country of Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has set an example for many in the world, as in absence of hands, she has used her feet to establish a thriving crochet business.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency coinciding with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), which is being observed on Friday, Sisana Mabuza said she has been using her feet to weave footwear, hats, and other items. The crochet, which is a process of creating textiles, needs both hands to use a crochet hook to interlock loops of yarn, thread, or strands of other material.

"Look! I can teach you the skill. You can crotch your foot ware easily," she said. Demonstrating her skill to a group of women gathered at her stall, she said people should not despise themselves just because of their physical condition.

According to her, she started the business more than 10 years ago, which is helping her to take care of her three children.

She said that her business also got affected by COVID-19 related restrictions.

"Covid-19 did not spare my business, my revenue dropped significantly. I would normally get $62 per day but now I get only $19, business is not good,” she said.

Before the pandemic, she had been regularly attended international business shows in South African and Botswana along with other entrepreneurs to boost sales.

"To the government, we appeal for financial support because of the pandemic we are struggling to grow and we sometimes struggle to buy stock, things are difficult," she said.

Chairperson of Federation Organization of the Disabled People in Swaziland (FODSWA) Nondumiso Shongwe said lack of resources and support are some of the factors that stall the progress of entrepreneurs like Mabuza.

“We women that live with disabilities do have the skills and have knowledge of doing other things but we don’t have enough resources to kick-start our businesses so that we contribute to the economy of the country,” she said.

The country has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2012. The main aim of the convention was to protect, promote and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all people with disabilities and to promote their inherent dignity.

However, despite this progress, people with disabilities continue to be marginalized, discriminated against, and socially excluded from mainstream activities, said Shongwe.