Older Persons Bill in Parly

In a statement released after public hearings with the senior citizens by Parliamentarians in Zvishavane and Hwedza recently, HelpAge Zimbabwe said the Bill’s first reading was in March this year.
“This was the first time, since 2002, when the Bill was drafted, that Parliament, through the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Labour and Social Services had to

consult the views of older persons,” said HelpAge advocacy and communications officer Mr Conrad Gweru.
“The Minister of Labour and Social Services is now expected to present the Older Persons Bill to Parliament for second reading. Thereafter the Bill will be open for

debate in the House of Assembly.”
According to HelpAge, Zimbabwe was the first country in Africa to draft the Bill in 2002 following the Madrid International Plan of Action in ageing, which recommended that African states develop policy and legislation to improve living standards of older persons.

The Bill was gazetted in September 2011 and presented in Parliament for the first time in March 2012.
The Bill was then 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 for senior citizens way after Zimbabwe have already put in place the Older Persons Act.

Meanwhile, older persons who participated on the public hearings urged Government to provide universal pensions, health assistance and support in terms of food provision, and orphan care.
Mbuya Pedzisai of Mutambi Village in Zvishavane expressed gratitude towards the parliamentarians gesture to hear about their plight and hoped that their concerns will be included in the Bill.

The Older Persons Bill 2011 is proposing for the provision of social welfare assistance, which will only be handed out upon application by destitute and vulnerable older persons.

However, older persons in Zvishavane and Hwedza, specifically requested the Government to allocate them universal pensions.
Older persons also demanded that the bill should cover all persons 60 years and above and not use the 65 year cut off.