By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, June 22, Mana: Government has called for collaborative efforts from stakeholders in protecting the elderly from abuse.

Minister of Gender, Community, Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza, made the call on Saturday at Bindula Primary School in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Malili in Lilongwe during commemoration of World Elderly Abuse Awareness Day.

She said, despite interventions government and other stakeholders are undertaking, the elderly across the country, are still facing some forms of abuse.

“This occasion is not just a date on the calendar, but an opportunity to reaffirm government’s steadfast commitment to eradicating all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation directed at older persons,” she said.

Sendeza called on security agencies, religious and traditional leaders to be on the forefront in sensitizing people in their areas about the dangers of abusing, neglecting and exploiting older persons.

“Let me also take this opportunity to ask the judiciary to expedite all cases related to abuse of the elderly so that punishments given can send a strong message to other would be offenders,” she said

Executive Director for Malawi Network of Older Persons Organization (MANEPO), Andrew Kavala, said it is sad that abuse, violation and rejection that older persons are facing are coming from relatives, the youth in particular.

Kavala, therefore, asked youth across the country to respect, care and protect the elderly saying without them they couldn’t be there.

“It is sad that few weeks ago, a youth in Chiradzulu killed his two grandmothers over an issue that could have been sorted out amicably.

“What we need to know is that all of us are growing, and one day we will be old. If we don’t change the behavior of abusing these people, we shall also be abused in one way or the other,” he said.

June 5, is designated globally as World Elderly Abuse Awareness Day. In Malawi, the day was commemorated on June 21 under the theme: “From Silence to Action: Ending Abuse and Violence Against the Elderly Through Collective Community Action”.

During the event, MANEPO distributed 100 blankets to elderly persons in the area.