By Wadza Botomani

The elderly people in the country through the Malawi Network of Older Person’s Organization (MANEPO) has reminded the Tonse government to rollout monthly pension scheme for the elderly which it promised during Campaign Time. The group claims the elderly have been highly affected by the current economic challenges.

According to MANEPO country director, Andrew Kavala, failure by government to implement the initiative is worsening the challenges the elderly are facing, including making them more vulnerable to abuse as they are dependent.

State vice-president Saulos Chilima is on record as promising  that government will introduce a welfare benefit scheme or the state old-age pension scheme for all Malawians aged 65 years. Originally a UTM pledge, this was adopted when Tonse Alliance came into place. Chilima is on record saying ” Many older people are living pathetic lives with costs of goods and other expenses are rocketing and  promised that his administration will ensure they  supplement their income with a government old age grant”

Meanwhile, Spokesperson in the ministry of gender, Fred Simwaka says the programme missed out on this year’s financial budget as Parliament did not allocate funds to operationalize the scheme, but hopes the initiative will rollout in the next financial year.

Tonse partners made a campaign pledge rollout a K15 000 monthly scheme for older persons in the country.