MARIENTAL – At first glance you would think he is an academic about to address a graduation ceremony but the purple gown he wears at many community gatherings symbolises his presidency.
The president of the Namibia Senior Citizens Movement, Benjamin Jagger, is a figure seen in a purple gown at almost all functions in Mariental and surrounding areas and you can’t miss him because he wears the gown to all events and functions that he attends.
Swapo secretary general Nangolo Mbumba bestowed the gown on him in October 2010 as the president during celebrations to mark the International Day of Older Persons at Grootfontein, and he has been wearing it to all events since then.
Speaking to New Era, Jagger told of the movement’s aims and achievements, stating the movement is slowly but surely expanding as it currently has 92 committees in eight different regions and only a lack of funds is making it difficult to reach all 14 regions.
Jagger outlined that the movement’s main aim is to protect the rights of senior citizens and ensure their living standards are improved in the entire country.
“We are the eyes, ears and mouth of senior citizens and the voice of the voiceless,” he said in reference to the movement for the elderly.
He said sometimes the elderly are not treated well and the movement wants this to change. He also urged children to respect their elders so that they in turn could live a long life.
He said apart from doing house visits and inspections on the welfare of elders, the movement has done well and has contributed to the non-payment of senior citizens at government health facilities and has sought finance to help elders with hearing aids and walking sticks, among others.
He also took a minute to thank the government for raising the pension grant to N$1 000, saying that it will help in uplifting the lives of many senior citizens. He concluded by wishing the President Dr Hage Geingob all the luck, health and strength in order for him to carry out his duties properly.