'Old-age homes like prisons'

Deputy finance minister Natangwe Ithete has likened old-age homes to prisons and accused Namibians of losing their culture by taking elderly relatives to these homes.He said instead of dumping the elderly in old-age homes, Namibians should embrace senior citizens by taking care of them and preserving their culture.Ithete made these remarks in the National Assembly on Tuesday when he made his contribution to a report by the parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, social development and family affairs on the status of old-age homes in Namibia.He said taking the elderly to old-age homes is similar to “imprisonment”.“We are losing our culture… we must encourage the culture of taking care of our parents… Sending elders to old-age homes is like imprisonment,” Ithete said.He said the elderly can easily die due to stress while at old-age homes.“How many MPs wish to be taken to an old-age home one day? Maybe only one,” he said.Only Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) legislator Steve Bezuidenhout had his hand up, presumably suggesting he wishes to be taken to an old-age home one day.Ithete's argument was shot down by Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) MP Elma Dienda, who said pride and culture cannot come at the expense of subjecting the elderly to abuse and suffering.“What culture are you talking about when people are suffering?” she asked.The committee, amongst others, found that many elderly people are physically abused by their own children and members of their families, and therefore called for more old-age homes to be built to accommodate these senior citizens who are neglected. The committee also found that the general neglect of elderly Namibians occurs in areas where there is a lack of affordable government old-age homes, places of safety and frail care centres.A case in point is 33 elderly people in the Oshana who reported cases of physical abuse and bullying at the hands of those who ought to be taking care of them.Dienda is part of the committee that made the findings.Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila also joined the debate, supporting Dienda.She proposed that legislation be enacted to protect the elderly, just as there is currently laws to protect minors. In addition, urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga suggested that sending the elderly to old-age homes should be needs-based.Agreeing with him was Swanu's Tangeni Iijambo, who proposed that extensive research be conducted nationwide to establish the facts on the ground.Diverting from the debate was Swapo's Elifas Dingara, who took issue with the tendency by some MPs to flood the House with complaints.“I don't know who you are complaining to when you are the ones who are supposed to make the laws,” he said, suggesting that MPs ought to come up with proposed legislation to address the plight of Namibians.NAMPA

'Old-age homes like prisons'

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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'Old-age homes like prisons'

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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