Government Mulls Elderly People's Bill

AllAfrica

July 31, 2009

Zimbabwe

The Ministry of Labour and Social Services will soon table a motion for the creation of an Elderly People's Bill that is expected to address the plight of the country's senior citizens.

Labour and Social Services Minister Paurina Mpariwa said they would also commission a study to come up with a census of the elderly people in Zimbabwe and seek ways of assisting them.

Speaking after presenting a wheelchair to one of the country’s senior citizens, Mr Frank Lupafya, yesterday Minister Mpariwa said Zimbabwe had a lot of elderly people who were struggling to survive despite having worked for the development of the country.

"We are looking at tabling a Bill that will enable the country to come up with a comprehensive framework to assist our elderly people and take cognisance of the UN principles on the elderly. We recognise that there are a number of elderly within the communities and societies that require assistance," she said.

The wheelchair was sourced by the ministry after it got the news that Mr Lupafya had been attacked by diabetes and could no longer walk, forcing his family to sent him to the Dorothy Ducan Rehabilitation Centre for assistance.

One of the longest serving civil servants, Mr Lupafya is diabetic and blind.

He has not been able to walk for the past year and he also requires dialysis once every week.

Mr Lupafya's wife Rachael thanked the ministry for the gesture saying the wheelchair would go a long way in assisting her husband in his day-to-day life.

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