Call to enact Older Persons Bill into law

citizens in Zimbabwe.
Speaking at a media briefing in Harare recently, HelpAge advocacy and communications officer Mr Conrade Gweru said the elderly were experiencing a lot of physical, psychological and financial abuse.
He said this was perpetrated by those close to them.
He said they were raped, accused of social evils such as witchcraft from which they were killed or banished without any prospects of protection by the law.
This is despite their pivotal role in taking care of orphans and other vulnerable children (OVCs) and bed- ridden patients.
Data from HelpAge and the United Nations Children’s Fund indicate that between 40 and 50 percent of OVCs are being taken care of by elderly people mainly women.
The caregivers are looking after an average three children.
“For the Government of Zimbabwe to effectively address the plight of older persons, there is need to expedite the process of passing the Bill into law,” said Mr Gweru.
Zimbabwe was the first country in Africa to draft the Bill in 2002 following the Madrid International Plan of Action in Ageing.
It recommended that African states develop policy and legislation to improve the living standards of older persons.
However, the Bill has taken so long to be passed into law. According to HelpAge, it was gazetted in September 2011 and presented in Parliament for the first time in March this year.
The Bill has been taken back to the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare for wider consultation.
Ten years on, the majority of African countries, which started the process of coming up with legislation way after Zimbabwe have already put in place the Older Persons Act.