Do the elderly mean anything to our government?

As I write this article, I have been standing in a long queue at the Kwekwe branch of the People's Own Savings Bank (POSB), for the past one and half hours merely trying to get a bank statement for my elderly sick mother.

As I look around, all I see are elderly people seeking to withdraw their National Social Security Authority (NSSA) payouts.

All these elderly people have obviously been in this queue an average of two hours or so, just to get their monies.

I can not help but feel ashamed of my government, for treating our elderly in such a dehumazing, disrespectful and degrading manner is beyond even those without a conscience.

Do our elderly mean nothing anymore to our government? Have they now become useless and expendable? A nuisance to society?

The elderly, our mothers, fathers, uncles, aunties, grandfathers, and grandmothers have contributed so much to this country.

They are the ones who brought us up. Who nurtured us. Who spent sleepless nights whilst we were sick, and carried us on their backs to the nearest clinic - probably 5 kilometres away.

They are the ones who sacrificed everything to get us through school. At times, selling everything of worth, just so that we could get something akin to a decent livelihood.

During the country's liberation struggle, they were the ones who bore the brunt of the war. Attacked from both sides of the conflict, as they were accused of harbouring the 'enemy'.

They were beaten up. They were tortured. They were raped. Their homes and whatever little cattle they had were burnt.

After independence, they were the ones who went straight to work in rebuilding Zimbabwe. Driving the wheels of industry and commerce. Working on farms, and tilling the land in order to feed the nation.

Of course, as everyone else, as the years went by, they got old and tired - and time came for them to rest and we, their children, to take over.

As they take their well-deserved rest, should we then forget all they did for us and the nation? Should we now throw them away and treat them as if they are nothing but a nuisance?

Otherwise, how can anyone explain cramming elderly people - most of whom are clearly sick and too fragile to stand, even for a few minutes - into a banking hall for hours on end?

If the government had any compassion at all for the elderly, they would come up with less strenuous means for our elderly to get their monies.

Similarly, although it is understandable for NSSA to ensure that the beneficiaries of the social security payouts are still alive, the requirement for these elderly people to travel to the provincial capital annually just to confirm their continued existence is not only inconsiderate, but also cruel.

NSSA has offices in many districts, so why can that not be processed there?

Please, let's show some compassion and appreciation for our elderly. They are our nation's treasure.

Needless to say, as I finish writing this article, I am still in the queue at the POSB - wondering how my poor sick elderly mom would have fared had she come alone.

° Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a community activist, communications consultant, journalist, and writer. He writes in his personal capacity. He welcomes feedback. Please call/WhatsApp +263782283975, or email: tendaiandtinta.mbofana@gmail.com