Govt to pay senior citizens 20,000/- monthly as pension

By Lusekelo Philemon

William Lukuvi

 

Senior citizens in Tanzania will soon start getting a monthly pay of 20,000/- as pension for their job well-done at the time when they were energetic.

Minister of State (Policy, Coordination and Parliamentary Affairs), William Lukuvi said on yesterday, that preparations for the execution of the payment were underway.

“The government has agreed to start paying elders in the country, but we’re working on better modalities required to make this effective,” Lukuvi said, as he responded to a supplementary question by Joseph Selasini (Rombo, Chadema). Selasini had wanted to know when the government will start paying the stated amount to elders.

The minister stated that pension for senior citizens is crucial for their life and the government is taking the matter very seriously, “but we need to prepare better policy and eligibility criteria for payment of the pension.”

He noted that very soon the government is to come up with a bill for the Parliament to endorse it into a law that would be governing the pension for this important segment in the society.

Lukuvi however asked the local government authorities to start allocating funds for taking care of the needy in the society including the elderly.

Citing Dar es Salaam City Council, he said they should start allocating enough money to assist the needy elders, who have nowhere to get shelters and other basic necessities.


Earlier, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Seif Rashid said in the next financial year, the government has allocated 150m/- for refurbishing settlements of elders living in designated camps across the country.

Dr Rashid was responding to a basic question by Elizabeth Batenga (Special Seats, CCM), who had wanted to know the monthly budget allocated for the elderly and orphans living in designated centres. She also asked government’s plan to revamp Kiilima elders’ centre in Kagera Region.

The minister said the government is interested to see that all special groups including the elderly get basic needs including food, shelter, treatment and security.

He however said in 2012/2013, about 67.5m/- was allocated for the Kiilima elders’ centre.
 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN