Former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi
The retired President, who relinquished
his ministerial post in 1976 following a report of elderly women killed
in Shinyanga on related claims, said at the climax of International Day
of Older Persons held here that “enough is enough.”
His remarks were prompted by a statement
from the elders’ community which claimed that members of the senior
citizens community were still facing the decades-long challenge.
“We’re in 2017 and some people are being
killed. Action must be taken and intensified to stop-killing of
elders,” he said at the ceremony which was attended by elders from
around 21 regions in the country.
The second-phase President was concerned
that the elders should also enjoy their constitutional right to life.
“They don’t need to live in fear,” he noted.
Although there are no immediate figures
detailing the magnitude of the problem, the former leader assured the
public that such acts had relatively been reduced in the country, thanks
to public awareness campaigns.
Media reports show that until 2000, more
than 500 elderly women, suspected of being witches were stoned, hacked
to death or lynched in Shinyanga, Tabora and Mwanza regions.
In their statement at the ceremony, the
elders challenged the government to fast-track enactment of a law to
help enforce the elderly policy of 2003.
Mzee Sebastian Bhulengi, Chairman of the
Elders Network said they also want special representation in all
decision-making organs including councils and National Assembly.
“Health service provision to the elderly
is still a nightmare. We believe the national health insurance to all
elders will help improve the situation.” Apparently, the Chairman said
only four per cent of the 2.5 million population had pensions, contrary
to the government decision of ensuring all elders receive payments.
Minister of Health, Community
Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms Ummy Mwalimu said the
government had finished registration of elders across the country and
better services were underway for the community.
She said that over 1.35 million old
people have been identified with more than 200,000 directly receiving
National Health Insurance Fund benefits. Regarding elders in camps, the
Minister said the 489 elders in 17 camps countrywide now directly
receive money for food.
“We have also implemented a number of programmes to ensure we sustain better service for the elders,” she said.
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