Forgotten in Old Age: Why Zimbabwe’s Elderly Are Sleeping on the Streets

By Evans Jona

As the world prepares to commemorate the International Day of Older Persons on October 1, Zimbabwe faces a sobering truth: more senior citizens are ending their lives not in the comfort of family homes but on pavements, bus ranks, and abandoned corridors. Their frail bodies, often wrapped in thin blankets, are a haunting reminder of a society struggling to uphold the dignity of its elders.

The 2022 Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) census recorded over 680,000 people aged 65 and above. Yet, many survive without pensions or meaningful support. The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) has acknowledged the inadequacy of its payouts, with most pensioners receiving around US$60 a month. “That amount cannot cover rent, food, and medication,” says Patrick Ndlovu, Chairman of the Zimbabwe Senior Citizens Association. “It pushes the elderly into destitution and homelessness. They worked hard for this country, but in their twilight years, they are being left to fend for themselves on the streets.”

The crisis is visible across Zimbabwe’s cities. In Harare, NewsDay (12 August 2022) reported on elderly people sleeping outside banks overnight, waiting to access meagre pension payouts. An 81-year-old man interviewed by the paper said: “Sometimes I sleep on the pavement because by the time the bank opens, the queues are already too long. My children left the country years ago, and I have nowhere else to go.”

In Mutare, The Manica Post (24 September 2022) highlighted cases of elderly women at Sakubva Market who spend the night in market stalls after being displaced from their homes. A 74-year-old woman told the paper: “I used to stay with relatives, but disputes over the house drove me out. I would rather sleep here than be insulted every day.”

In Bulawayo, The Chronicle (March 2023) reported on pensioners who spend nights at the City Hall car park. One elderly man said anonymously: “I once worked in industry, but my pension is too little to pay rent. I sell sweets by day and sleep here at night.”

Ndlovu says such testimonies reflect a broader national crisis. “We are seeing more elders on the streets because of family neglect, migration, and poverty. Traditionally, elders were protected within families, but that system is collapsing. Some are chased away from their homes after land disputes. Others are abused or abandoned because their families see them as a burden.”

Research evidence supports this. A HelpAge International report on ageing in Zimbabwe noted that more than 70% of older people live below the poverty line, with limited access to healthcare and housing. A 2021 study by the Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe (LEDRIZ) found that pension reforms have failed to keep pace with inflation, leaving senior citizens destitute.

Old people’s homes, which could provide some refuge, are scarce and overstretched. Zimbabwe has fewer than 25 registered institutions, most of which rely on donations. “Zororai Old People’s Home in Mutare is one example,” Ndlovu explains. “It struggles to accommodate even 40 residents. Across the country, the demand is far greater than the capacity available. Some elders avoid these homes altogether because they fear stigma or feel abandoned when taken there.”

Despite the grim situation, Ndlovu believes solutions are within reach. “We need effective social protection programs, emergency shelters, and pension reforms that provide real dignity. Communities must also play their part. Churches, NGOs, and councils can provide temporary shelters and food, but what we really need is a cultural shift back to valuing our elders. This is not just a government issue, it’s a societal one.”

As Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world in commemorating older persons, the plight of those sleeping on pavements and bus ranks raises urgent questions. How a nation treats its elderly, Ndlovu argues, is a mirror of its values. “Our elders carried this country through wars, hardship, and nation building. Leaving them to die on the streets is not just a social failure, it is a moral one.”