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Govt 'Values Older Persons Contribution'
By Judica Tarimo
October 2, 2004
M. Juma Kapuya, the Minister of Labour, Youth Development and Sports ( Tanzania )
Kapuya said in the speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Mudhihir Mudhihir, that the government would not disregard the experience, knowledge and skills possessed by older persons in its endeavour to bring about development.
The minister said an estimated two million orphans in the country were cared for and supported by older persons and urged communities to halt harassing the social group.
"Older persons are being harassed and sometimes killed on allegations of witchcraft beliefs. This is unacceptable.we need to respect and value our elders," he said.
Kapuya called on the society to make sure that older persons had access to education, health, and other social services.
The government had set up a national policy for older persons that aimed at improving the welfare of the social group, he said.
The minister assured older persons that it was not the government's intention to delay implementation of the policy, adding that it would soon come into effect.
Older persons said in their speech that both the society and government were neglecting them as they did not get adequate health care and other social services.
"Currently, older persons live under difficult conditions prompted by delays in the payment of their pensions. We are totally ignored by the youth, government, and everybody because of our age," they said.
There are an estimated 600 million older persons around the globe. Tanzania has over 1.9 million older persons aged 60 and above.
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