ZANZIBAR: MEMBERS of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Women’s Wing, UWT in North Pemba Region have visited elderly residents at the Limbani Elderly Care Centre in Wete, calling on the community to continue valuing and respecting senior citizens for their contribution to national development.
The members said the elderly are a national treasure, whose role in building the nation deserves recognition, dignity and care.
Speaking during the visit, a member of the CCM North Pemba Regional Political Committee, Ms Mgeni Khatib Yahya, urged citizens to nurture and sustain a culture of caring for the elderly, to ensure they do not feel neglected in their advanced years.
“The elderly deserve appreciation and respect because without them, we would not be where we are today. They raised us and it is now our responsibility to take good care of them with wisdom and love,” she said.
She added that caring for senior citizens is a shared responsibility and a reflection of strong moral and cultural values within society.
On her side, the UWT North Pemba Regional Secretary, Ms Asila Ali Salim, encouraged citizens to actively support government efforts aimed at improving the welfare of the elderly through volunteering and community engagement.
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“The government places high importance on the wellbeing of senior citizens, which is why there is a dedicated department responsible for their care. As a society, we must complement these efforts,” she said.
On their part, elderly residents at the centre cited lack of reliable transport and limited access to medical services as their main challenges.
“When we fall ill, it becomes difficult because we do not have a resident doctor or dependable transport. We are requesting our own means of transport to ease emergencies,” said residents Ms Subira Omar Mohamed and Mr Khamis Ali Said.
The visit was part of activities to mark 49th anniversary of CCM, which aimed at strengthening social solidarity and promoting care and compassion for the elderly.