By Peter Phiri:
Atleast 1. 1 million elderly population in the country are living in agitation from social exclusions, ageism among other traumatizing experiences on elderly persons.
Malawi Network of Older Persons (MANEPO) Country Director Andrew Kavala said from January to September 2022, 15 order persons aged between 60 and above are reported to have been stoned and tortured to death, attributing the injustice as due to lack of an enabling environment to accomodate and respect rights of the elderly.
“Older persons are living dangerously, they’re not free in their own country, every malawian should equaly be concerned when we see that people who have supported development of this country in different ways and all of a sudden, they have no space to participate in whatever the country is doing. So I think we should be very concerned that a certain group of people in Malawi does not have the environment every Malawian is expected to have,” Said Kavala
Kavala further added that the country is grappling to the core in protecting a certain age group of order men and women from Mob justice on witchcraft allegations despite government efforts through policy formulation to ensure that there’s access to healthy elderly livelihood, and strengthening elderly health care systems.
Meanwhile, MANEPO has partnered, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Malawi chapter to promote rights of the elderly, through dissemination of hidden injustices and expose social exclusions rocking the country.
Speaking after Signing a Memorandum of Understanding, MISA- Malawi Chairperson, Teleza Ndanga admitted that there’s Capability gap within journalists in unearthing social challenges facing the elderly.
“We have not done well, in terms uncovering deeper issues, analysis to do with the Elderly persons and that’s why we have joined MANEPO to not just to help in awarding excellent and professional journalism but also help us in capacitation”
In the new Partnership, MISA malawi members will be apart from receiving an award for exposing and bringing to light injustices facing the elderly citizens, the wining journalists will have an opportunity to secure a reporting grant on issues of the elderly.
