Staff Reporter
MATOBO — Matobo District on Thursday joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of Older Persons, with Government and stakeholders calling for stronger and more inclusive systems to support people as they live longer.
The commemorations, held in Maphisa under the theme “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,” brought together hundreds of older persons, Government officials, traditional leaders, community representatives, civil society organisations and development partners.
The event was officially opened by the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Hon Edgar Moyo, who reaffirmed Government’s commitment to strengthening social protection and implementing the provisions of the Older Persons Act.
Minister Moyo urged communities to honour, protect and respect older persons, ensuring they are able to age with dignity and access the care and support they deserve.
The commemorations also focused on the need to strengthen healthcare, social protection, communication, infrastructure and other support systems to meet the changing needs of an ageing population.
Among the organisations supporting the event was Nkomwa Foundation Trust (NFT), which provided sign-language interpretation to ensure participants with hearing impairments could follow the proceedings and participate meaningfully.
NFT Director Dr P. Nkomwa said ageing should not create additional barriers for persons with disabilities.
“As we commemorate older persons, we must remember that ageing does not erase disability. Older persons with disabilities must be seen, heard and included in every system that affects their lives,” he said.
Dr Nkomwa said the provision of sign-language interpretation demonstrated the importance of deliberately removing communication barriers from community programmes.
“Inclusion is not a favour. It is a responsibility. When information is inaccessible, participation becomes impossible. We therefore have a responsibility to ensure that our community programmes are accessible to everyone,” he said.
NFT’s participation underscored the importance of integrating disability inclusion into broader development, social protection and community programmes.
Older persons with disabilities can face multiple barriers, including inaccessible information, infrastructure and public services, making deliberate efforts to promote accessibility and participation essential.
Stakeholders at the commemorations called for stronger collaboration among Government, communities, civil society organisations and development partners to ensure that older persons remain protected, respected and able to participate meaningfully in community life.
The International Day of Older Persons is commemorated annually on 1 October to raise awareness of issues affecting older people and recognize their contributions to society.
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