MISS Ability Namibia 2022 Elizabeth Angodji is safely back home after she was allegedly turned away from the Eros International Airport due to her disability.
Andgodji was allegedly denied a seat on a flight from Windhoek to Ondangwa on Sunday, with the airline citing her disability as reason.
FlyNamibia’s managing director, Andre Compion has, however, issued her and her mother a direct and personal apology.
The Oshakati-based Angodji was crowned Miss Ability Namibia 2022, while Tresia Ndeevelo was her first runner-up and Vicktoria Martins her second runner-up.
The pageant aims for inclusivity and getting rid of the stigma around disability.
The focus of the pageant is not on beauty alone, but also on qualities of substance and community involvement.
Angodji recently visited Windhoek for a training workshop hosted by MTC.
She says the workshop finished last month, after which she fell ill.
“I attended sewing training. My plans were to go back home with the bus after the session, but then I got sick. I went to the doctor and was operated on. Because of the operation I cannot sit in a bus for hours.
“When we arrived for the flight we were told I could not board, because of my disability. I want to urge the public to please make an effort to educate themselves on the different types of disabilities,” she says.
Eva Josaphat, the founder of the Miss Ability Pageant Namibia, says: “Everybody who knows me knows I do not take disability issues lightly. I want to specifically thank a few individuals who did not hesitate to resolve this matter.
“Sisa Namandje came in full force free of charge. I would love to thank my partner in advocacy, Sammy, thank you for putting your life and schedule on hold for this important matter.
“I would also love to thank honourable Lucia Witbooi for reacting so fast. We need more people like you. As for now, Sisa Namandje advised that we do not sue, but next time they put my queen through this traumatising event, we will definitely sue.
“We also thank Fly Namibia for realising their mistake, but they should not apologise shifting blame, they should be geniune,” she says.
According to a statement from FlyNamibia, their conditions of carriage clearly stipulate that in the event a booking is made for a passenger with reduced mobility, such booking must be made at least 72 hours in advance.
It further states that Angodji, who is in need of a wheelchair, had booked a ticket via a ticketing agent.
The agent made the booking at 22:35 on 12 March for a flight departing early the next morning.
“The reason for the above is that the carrier must have enough time to assess the level of immobility of the passenger, take a view whether such passenger can safely be carried with the above in mind, and to then brief the personnel scheduled to deal with the specific passenger on what should be done.
“Due to the time the booking was made, FlyNamibia did not accept the booking as we clearly had no time to assess the situation and put the necessary arrangements in place.
“The agent should not have issued the tickets without FlyNamibia’s acceptance of the specific passenger’s needs,” the statement reads.
Andgodji recently launched her hand-made jewellery business.
She makes her jewellery from paper and other materials.
Angodji lost her left leg in a road accident when she was a year old.
“The accident happened when I was crossing the road with my mom. I have my right leg, but my left leg was cut off due to the accident. What was tough was growing up with discrimination and being unfairly treated,” she says.
Angodji says she entered Miss Ability because she wanted to inspire others, and to embrace her beauty in full.
“As a woman with a disability I have always heard I could not achieve anything in life, because I was unable to walk.
“So the whole reason why I took part in the pageant was to to prove to everyone that no matter what disability or inability you have, you can still fulfil your dreams,” she said.