The prices on the market keep rising day by day, yet the contribution of those in old ages does not increase which creates a mismatch of demands and financial capacity and their well-being in the end according to the pensioners.
It is estimated that the minimum pensioner gets Rwf1300, which according to
pensioners is not enough compared to the current prices on the market.
According to Dorothée Uwimana, the pensioners say old people tend to live in
isolation but when the situation is coupled with meager earnings it deteriorates
their well-being and hampers their economic well-being and therefore affects
their access to some of the basic needs including medication.
“The salary rose but the pension fee did not rise and it is not updated. Old people can’t get medicine when they get sick.” she alarmed.
“Despite it is the responsibility of a country. Not all people love to be helped,” she added. “The major problem is the chronic diseases whose financial capacity and contribution can’t sustain.
Despite the fact that pension was raised in the 2018 Uwimana say, pensioner’s
payment is still low and can’t cope with the high cost of living and cannot sustain their daily needs and medical treatment especially when it comes to the
treatment of the chronic diseases Gasore Séraphin, Secretary of Inspire Zamuka, a Trade Union that advocates for children, women, youth, and old people also echoes that only 6% old age pensioners get pensions which he said is a lower percentage compared to the number of the old people.
He says either the government or non-government has the responsibility to look
after the old people, however, they need well-being.
On another hand, Yvonne Mujawabega, the Head of the Pension Department at
Rwanda social security board (SSB) said, most times those in the old ages are not well prepared and as a result they end up shifting the blame to the government. “We should not wait for the RSSB to give a lot of money. Old age is prepared for and salary cannot solve someone’s needs and it is, therefore, necessary for the youth to prepare for the future.” she said.
