11 Feb 2018

Parliament has unanimously agreed to request government to review the old age pension scheme and increase the monthly grant paid to elderly members of society.

This follows the adoption of a motion from Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse requesting government to review the scheme.

Proposing the motion, the Botswana Congress Party MP had pointed out that the old age pension, currently P430 a month, was paltry.

“The cost of living is high. When you look at our elderly they have the responsibility of taking care of their grandchildren, and in most cases you find that because they are old they are unable to do things that they did when they were still fit. That calls for the need for these elderly people to have helpers. So because they are heavily laid with these responsibilities, figures have to be reviewed,” the legislator said.

Mr Keorapetse said the review should be comprehensive and should consider reducing the eligible age for the grant to 60. Currently, people aged 65 and above are eligible for the grant.

He said the review should consider whether people who have adequate monthly payments from pensions should be coveredt.

Parliamentarians unanimously backed the motion with Molepolole South MP, Dr Tlamelo Mmatli saying the review should be encompassing and look holistically at the care for senior citizens.

“Some elderly people live with disability and the review should look at how they can be assisted. There is an issue of shortage of medication in hospitals and there should be ways how they can be helped," Dr Mmatli said.

He asked for implementation to be effected expeditiously once the review had been concluded.

Tlokweng MP, Mr Masego Segokgo agreed that the grant should be increased to cover food prices, water and electricity tariffs. Jwaneng/Mabutsane MP, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile called for the establishment of old age homes where elderly people could be assisted with their needs.

Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen, who is also Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said government was equally concerned about the welfare of elderly people. He said his ministry was looking to improve the conditions of elderly people.

“As a responsible government from time to time we do review our policies. We have had debates and discussions about the different models that we need to follow, or to adopt to improve the conditions of our pensioners,” he said.

He said the old age pension was started in 1996 as a token of appreciation to the contribution made by the elderly to the development of the country. Ends