01 Dec 2021

Ramotswa will Friday play host to this year’s International Day of Older Persons themed: ‘Digital equity for all ages’. 

The theme stresses the need for the elderly to have access to the digital world and become active participants in it.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Mabuse Pule is expected to officiate at the event.

Briefing a preparatory meeting on Tuesday, Balete‘s Kgosi Mosadi Seboko said preparations were at an advanced stage for celebrating the contribution senior citizens had made to society.

She said progress made so far in recognising the elderly’s impact was impressive which was indicative of a socially just society.

Kgosi Seboko applauded efforts made by organisations and individuals who continued to care for the elderly such as Ramotswa’s Re Fa Ka Bone Caring Centre.

Senior citizens, she said, had a lot of responsibility as society’s leaders which included passing on traditional and cultural knowledge to the younger generation. 

In an interview, 81-year-old Mr Khudu Monei of Goora Gaobotswe ward said although he grew up in a society with little use for technology,  he was alive to the fact that digitalisation was now critical.

He said lack of basic education had made it difficult for him to keep up with the current fast paced technology and needed assistance to navigate a smartphone to connect with family and friends.

Mr Monei appealed to government to take senior citizens on board so that they could embrace technology and feel part of the digital world.

Commemorated annually by UN member states,  International Day of Older Persons currently focuses on implementation of the 2002 Madrid Plan of Action which has identified as priority areas older persons and development, advancing health and wellbeing into old age and ensuring enabling and supportive environments.

Conscious that the elderly were not properly cared for and their societal relevance or influence was slowly diminishing, governments across the world resolved to ensure that older persons were treated with love and accorded the respect they deserved.

In Botswana’s case, the country endeavours to improve the welfare of the elderly through provision of services in appreciation of their invaluable contribution to the nation.

 The day affords  senior citizens the opportunity to exchange ideas and allows stakeholders to come up with strategies on improving the lives of the elderly.

 It also provides a unique opportunity to tap into their knowledge, experience and wisdom to propel the nation on a path of economic and social transformation as well as towards  achieving Vision 2036, Agenda 2030 and Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing aspirations.ends