“Right now, we are busy mobilising support from supporting partners and other responsible organisations,” said Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Paurina Mpariwa. She acknowledged that it would be an uphill task to mobilize financial resources to adequately cater for the welfare of the elderly but said government was committed to achieving this goal.
Zimbabwe was the first African country to draft the Older Persons Bill in 2002 following the Madrid International Plan of Action which recommended that African states should put in place legislation to improve living standards of the elderly.
The bill was gazetted in September 2011 and presented to Parliament for the first time in March 2012. The minister said there was need for greater commitment from government as well as assistance from the donor community.