Nice Trust for mindset change towards older persons in Dowa

National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has called on people in Dowa to change their mindset towards senior citizens in the district.

Speaking in an interview on Sunday, Nice acting executive director Gray Kalindekafe said there is need to respect the elderly if the country is to achieve meaningful development.

He was reacting to the incident where a 56-year-old Christina Chiwoko of Mwanza Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chiwere in the district was nearly buried alive last week by some irate community members for suspecting that she killed her own sister through magic.

Said Kalindekafe: “It’s high time they stopped viewing the elderly as people who bring misfortunes. The elderly are there for us.

“Senior citizens are the people who raised our parents and ensured that we reach up to this level.”

His comments come a week after the First Lady Monica Chakwera also condemned the barbaric behaviour towards the elderly.

She said the elderly need to be loved because they are the fountain granary of wisdom and custodians of history.

“Let’s respect the elderly because their existence is important and a blessing to the country,” said the First Lady.

To prove her love for the senior citizens, she hosted 120 elderly women at Chikoko Bay State House in Mangochi for a luncheon.