Elderly people bemoan abuse

Talent Gore
ELDERLY people have decried the abuse they endure due to lack of protection, a top Government official has said.

This year’s World Elderly Abuse Awareness Day was celebrated in Harare yesterday.

Public Service, Labour and Social Development’s legal director, Fredrick Mabhena, spoke on behalf of Minister Paul Mavima.

This year’s edition was held under the theme, “Zimbabwe-Confronting Elder Abuse”.

“This theme resonates well with the UN International Plan of Action that describes elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue,” he said.

“With this in mind, enhanced attention should be put on the needs and challenges of older persons, bearing in mind the United Nations Secretary General`s guiding principle of ‘Leaving No-One Behind.’

“It is also important to take note of the essential contributions that older women and men can make to the functioning of society.”

He added that, as a Ministry, they were advocating for the good health of the elderly.

“The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare continues to advocate for policies that make explicit reference to Older Persons, including those with disabilities.

“The main thrust of the advocacy is with regards to ending poverty, good health and well-being, decent work and sustainable cities and communities.

“Given that the majority of older persons in communities are discriminated against, on the basis of witchcraft accusations, another key advocacy point is educating the masses that aging does not translate to                                      witchcraft.

“The message behind the advocacy being, ‘KUCHEMBERA HANDI KUROYA’ meaning being aged does not make one a witch.

“Stop killing and abusing older persons on the basis of witchcraft.

“Long life is wealth, a blessing from God, and not a felony.”

The Society of the Destitute Aged (SODA) director, Emily Mukaratirwa, said the elderly were being manipulated into begging for alms.

“We have a plea as carers, as social workers, that isn’t there anything that Government can do for our elderly whom we see being dragged into the streets in this biting cold to beg for alms by the people they live with,” she said

“Let us love our elderly and desist from abusing them.

“They have a lot to teach us and we have a lot to learn from them.”

Representing the chairperson of the Old Persons Board, Agnes Mafukare, said neglect was rampant.

“There are many forms of abuse that the elderly are facing in their various settings,” she said.

“Some of them relate to neglect, when people age, they become lonely and feel isolated, they need to be cared for and                                                      loved.

“Sometimes you find that children are neglecting their parents, visiting the elderly is very important to an older person, providing the basics for them.”