Plans are underway to start a monthly pension scheme for all elderly people in rural and urban areas as one way of ensuring they have access to basic necessities. 

A draft National Policy for Elderly Persons is expected to protect their rights, reduce poverty, tackle HIV/Aids and support the vulnerable since the aged also care for orphans.

Minister of Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly Minster Clement Khembo disclosed this in Blantyre on Saturday when he opened a southern region consultative conference for the draft policy.

Participants drawn from rural areas included district commissioners, chiefs, eminent elderly persons, civil society, religious leaders and members of parliament.

Khembo said government also plans to build senior citizen centers in all regions with the first one in Neno having 400 furnished self-contained rooms, a kitchen, recreational multi-purpose hall and a clinic.

“The policy commits us to promote and safeguard the rights of older citizens to human development priorities such as health, education, water and sanitation among others. They are productive and custodians of our culture.

“It will no longer be acceptable to abuse older persons physically or mentally by calling them all sorts of names such as witches or omanga mvula (rain-holders). The youth should also respect their elders, they’re our parents,” he said.

Khembo asked participants at the conference to critically examine 18 priority areas before submitting their findings to government. However, he said in the absence of a budget for clothes and blankets for the elderly, the private sector and well-wishers would be approached.

Chairperson for eminent of the elderly committee, Sam Kakhobwe said elderly policies common in many countries like Lesotho help tackle poverty as many care for orphans and do not have access to health facilities. 

So far, some 600,000 have been identified and he said the scheme will be like a safety bait where they will look into issues like identification cards, shop discounts and half-fares on buses.

“We don’t want the elderly to be destitute. We’ll soon decide the pension amount and with our management structure we’ll make sure they’ve access to doctors even outside the country following medical recommendation,” he said.

Similar consultative conferences will be held in Lilongwe and Mzuzu soon before a national consultative conference to submit the policy document to government for approval

More Information on World Elder Rights Issues