The President of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Your Excellencies Heads of Delegations, Ladies and Gentlemen.
 
 

Mr. President,
 

Allow me to join others who spoke before me, in warmly congratulating you on your election to the chair of this World Assembly. My delegation wishes to place on record its appreciation for the excellent manner in which you have conducted the affairs of this important gathering. There is no doubt that under your guidance, the Assembly will re-focus attention on the issue of ageing, and chart a new path towards the creation of a society for all ages.
 

Let me also align myself with the statement read by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela on behalf of the Group of 77 and China which adequately addressed the challenges presented by population ageing, particularly in developing countries.
 

Mr. President,

Zimbabwe appreciates the invaluable contribution that older persons make to society, particularly as custodians of history and culture. As a consequence, it has attempted over the years to improve the situation of its older citizens. As a developing country, however, Zimbabwe has been constrained by lack of resources in our effort to provide for our increasing ageing population and to ensure that older persons have full access to their rights as enshrined in the UN Principles for Older Persons.

While the current generation of older persons is afforded opportunities to access their rights, Zimbabwe acknowledges that the future older persons need to prepare for their progressive status. The strategies implemented take a developmental approach which views adulthood and ageing as a process of continuity and change throughout the entire lifespan. Education and training at all levels play a central role.

In Zimbabwe, the population of older persons aged 60 years and above is about 5.3% of the total population. The number of older persons is increasing while that of children has progressively been decreasing. A survey conducted in 1999 showed that the proportion of people with disabilities increases with age. Out of a total of 218 421 people with disabilities, 25% of them were aged 60 and above. 75% of people with disabilities live in rural areas where poverty is high, while 25% live in urban areas. It is for this reason that my delegation is pleased that the International Plan of Action on Ageing sees the link between poverty and ageing, particularly in the developing world.
 

Mr. President
 

Zimbabwe has adopted with caution the chronological definition of the term older person. The functional definition which relies on observable attributes, physical appearance, mobility, strength, coordination and mental capacity is considered relevant in designing strategies for older persons.
 

In Zimbabwe, the impact of HIV/AIDS on older persons has been acknowledged in order to address the relevant issues. While HIV/AIDS deaths are mainly in the 20-49 year age group, older persons face a major problem of providing care and support for the sick who usually revert to be cared for by their ageing parents. By the time the person with AIDS dies, they will have used up most of their resources, leaving the caring older persons poorer that before. Older persons also face the challenge of caring for children orphaned as a result of AIDS.
 

Mr. President,
 

More than 75% of the population in Zimbabwe live in rural areas. The structure of families is changing as a result of modernisation, urbanisation and industrialisation, with serious consequences for the situation of older persons who are left to fend for themselves in rural areas as the younger generation migrate to urban areas. The present agrarian reforms being undertaken by the government have demonstrated that contrary to conventional wisdom, the young and professional classes are eager to engage in agriculture. This phenomenon will ensure that agriculture will no longer be a means of subsistence, but a major agro-industrial development which will be an important factor in poverty alleviation a sine qua non for the well being of older persons.
 

The Government of Zimbabwe, in collaboration with stakeholders, in particular HelpAge Zimbabwe, has identified the issues which need to be attended to in order to facilitate the process of ensuring that older persons have the opportunity to access their rights. The programmes being implemented to assist older persons include:
 

Provision of free food and nutrition under the Social Welfare Assistance Act, and care and protection under social protection;

Provision of free medical treatment;

Provision of shelter in three schemes catering for older persons who are independent in daily living activities, those who need supervision in some activities, and others who require nursing care 24 hours. While trying to avoid institutionalised care, the Government of Zimbabwe endeavers to reach and care for older persons in need of support.

Legislated care and protection for older persons - Government, in consultation with older persons, non-governmental organisations such as HelpAge Zimbabwe and other stakeholders, came up with a draft Older Persons Bill which is now being considered.

Income security - Zimbabwe supports that older persons should have access to adequate food, water, shelter, clothing and health care through the provision of income. Like many developing countries, we are, however, constrained by lack of resources to support them for income generating activities and for appropriate educational and training programmes.

Mr. President

It is important that developing countries like Zimbabwe should recognise and take into account their demographic trends and changes in the structure of their populations in order to optimize their development. For developing countries to achieve this, they need financial assistance as their economies are not able to realise the means and resources needed for carrying out their social development policies successfully. In this regard, Zimbabwe welcomes the outcome of the Monterrey conference on financing for development, especially the new time commitment by developed countries to the 0.7% target for ODA, and hopes that it will assist in the realisation of the global objective of a society for all ages.

In conclusion Mr. President, allow me to mention here the sterling role played by HelpAge Zimbabwe in improving the situation of older persons in my country. Government has and will continue to work with them in meeting the challenges of population ageing in Zimbabwe.

Thank you.