‘Old age is not a crime’

Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Society should revise its attitude towards the elderly as discrimination and stigma against them has a detrimental effect on their health and lifespan, a Government official said yesterday. Addressing thousands of people gathered at the belated International Day for Older Persons commemorations in Chinhoyi yesterday, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Cde Prisca Mupfumira said everyone should play a role in ensuring that they were well taken care of. “The 2016 theme challenges everyone to seriously consider ageism, particularly the negative attitudes, stigma and discrimination targeted towards the elderly members of society,” said Cde Mupfumira.

She said everyone should help to identify and question attitudes against the elderly in society , adding that ageing should be dignified. Government, she said, had led the way by enacting the Older Persons Act, but it would count for nothing without the nation caring for the aged.

Minister Mupfumira said several programmes to cushion the vulnerable have constantly shown that aged women constituted the majority. Guest of honour at the event and Senate president Cde Edna Madzongwe hailed the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare for being proactive in mobilising resources such food for older persons, children and other vulnerable members of the society.

She said successive surveys have shown extreme poverty among the elderly population. “The surveys reported that older persons experience shortage of food, clothing, lack of or poor accommodation, poor health and lack of draught animals for those who live in rural areas,” she said.

In a speech read on his behalf by director in his office Mr Jim Kadziya, Mashonaland West Minister of State Cde Faber Chidarikire, said the welfare of the elderly should be prioritised.