Senior citizens meet with Mbumba

WINDHOEK, 10 APR – The Namibia Senior Citizens Movement (NSCM) paid a courtesy call on Vice President Nangolo Mbumba on Tuesday.
NSCM Vice President Benhard Tsanigab said the aim of the visit was to discuss challenges faced by senior citizens in Namibia.
One of the challenges they mentioned was that the resettlement programme only benefits people who can provide bank statements and according to the pensioners, people who “have huge (bank) balances”.
One of the pensioners told Mbumba she has been applying to be resettled since 1994 but has been unsuccessful since because she cannot provide a bank statement.
Tsanigab appealed to Mbumba to help the elderly in this regard.
“Such farms could be used for projects that can benefit the elderly and people living with disabilities,” he said.
The organisation also asked that local authorities subsidise the utility bills of pensioners like the municipality of Outjo does.
Anna Ida !Naruses from Kunene also told Mbumba to inform the Ministry of Health and Social Services that there is a need for language interpreters at healthcare centres around the country.
“Miscommunication puts the lives of senior citizens and others in danger,” she said.
Mbumba promised to channel the concerns to the relevant ministries.
NAMPA