Online Reporter
Alicia Kadzviti and Obey Musiwa
Herald Reporters
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has urged the Government to strengthen the protection of older persons’ rights, including access to social security and meaningful pensions.
The commission said this in a statement to commemorate the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP), marked on October 1 2025, under the theme “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being and Our Rights.”
While commending Zimbabwe for ratifying key African union protocols on the rights of older persons and enacting progressive legislation such as the Older Persons Act and the Social Welfare Assistance Act, the ZHRC noted that many elderly citizens still face
discrimination, inadequate health care, limited social protection, and, in some cases, abuse and neglect.
The commission said despite these legal frameworks, effective enforcement and resource allocation remain critical to ensuring older persons live with dignity and are recognised as active contributors to society.
“Until recently, the human rights of older persons have not received much attention, as this social group is often perceived as non-productive, as many would have retired from formal employment,” it said.
“This perception is misleading since many people in this category continue to actively serve in different capacities across diverse sectors, hence the 2025 IDOP theme acknowledges them as drivers of progress.”
As such, the commission said heightened attention should be given to their aspirations, well-being and human rights.
“To give more focus to the rights of older persons, the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing was adopted in 1990, followed by the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing in 2002, but these are not yet anchored by a legally binding international
human rights instrument,” it said.
“At the regional level, the African union (AU) adopted the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa in 2016.”
The statement said that despite these positive legislative measures, older persons in Zimbabwe continue to face barriers to the enjoyment of their constitutional rights and entitlements.
“Challenges in this regard include discrimination of older persons within their family environments and in public spaces, age-based stereotyping including accusations of witchcraft directed at older women in particular, limited access to health care, inadequate
social protection, prolonged isolation and loneliness, neglect and in some instances outright abuse by relatives or caregivers.”
The commission said the Government must provide resources for social security, including meaningful pensions for older persons.
“In particular, the commission urges the Government to allocate resources for the provision of social security for older persons, including meaningful pensions so that retired people do not become destitute,” it said.
