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a social welfare officer who was addressing them.

The drama happened at the home situated in Luveve suburb, during the belated commemorations of the United Nations International Day for the Elderly.

The commemorations were combined with a Christmas party for the elderly people drawn from around Bulawayo.
The drama started when Ms Melody Mashangwa, representing the Bulawayo provincial social welfare office, told them that the department had introduced a scheme for the elderly in Harare.

The elderly were irked by this and demanded to know why the department was helping their counterparts in the capital yet they had similar problems.
Ms Mashangwa said: “The usual public assistance programme which saw the elderly getting food and money was replaced by the Harmonised Cash Transfer, a programme already running in Harare.
“The Government has not forgotten about you, dear elderly people, and the public assistance programme which you say is no longer functional has been replaced by the Harmonised Cash Transfer, an upgraded system meant to help you in many ways.”

This did not go down well with the elderly who started speaking on top of their voices demanding answers.
They wanted to know the difference between them and their counterparts in Harare.
“This is not the first time that social welfare has disappointed us. Firstly, we were told that anyone who is above 65 years of age should be treated free of charge at Government hospitals but we are being made to pay $3,” said an old man.

They demanded to be treated as equals.
The commotion, which lasted for about 30 minutes, was only contained when an official from HelpAge Zimbabwe intervened.
The official, Mrs Sibusiso Baloyi, said the issue of the welfare of the elderly was always a  thorny one because of the kind of services they were getting.

Mrs Baloyi, however, reminded the elderly that   the issue was not on the agenda for the day and suggested a day be planned to give them a platform to air their grievances.
She, however, expressed concern on the way the elderly, aged above 60, were being treated.
“It is disturbing to see how people aged 60 are forced to retire yet there are many in Government who are over 70 years old. This means these people would have no one to fend for them since the Social Welfare is failing to provide for them,” she said.

“Sicela ukuthi izalukazi lamaxhegu bananzwe ngoba bayadubeka bevalelwa izindlu, amagetsi lamanzi malanga wonke bengela ongabalamulela,” she said.
Ms Mashangwa then urged the elderly not to be worried as they would soon “enjoy their lives because of the new programme”.

The day ended in happiness as the elderly shifted the focus from social welfare and engaged in dancing and modelling competitions to spice up their Christmas party.
Lobels Bread, Heads and Hooves, Belmont Meats and National Breweries donated food and drinks for the Christmas party.