Elderly persons In Zimbabwe, elderly persons comprise just over six per cent of the population, as indicated in the United Nations World Population Prospects 2017. A majority of elderly people live in rural areas, which predominantly have poor infrastructure, with few community gathering spaces and government offices. Despite the small population percentage, elderly persons, particularly older men, continue to be the dominant leaders and hold decision-making power in both traditional and government systems in the country. In 2017, the Office of the President and Cabinet, responsible for oversight of the public sector, strategic and policy direction, and government services delivery, was dominated by persons aged 60 and older. Legal framework and institutions There is both an international and national legal framework which guides the rights of elderly persons in Zimbabwe. Section 21 of the 2013 Constitution outlines the role of the state and institutions of government that are charged with the support and protection of elderly persons, including encouraging their full participation in society and ensuring programmes are in place to provide the opportunity for them to engage in productive activity suited to their abilities. Additionally, the Older Persons Act (2012), which came into effect in 2016, defines older persons as 65 and above. The Act established a Director of Older Persons and the Older Persons Board, generally responsible for the activities, welfare and wellbeing of older persons. This is consistent with international instruments. Notably, the United Nations Principles for Older Persons and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa sets out the principles of independence, protection, participation in social and political life, care, self-fulfilment and dignity of older persons; and further recognises the rights of older persons to make decisions without undue influence. Fundamental to these national, regional and international frameworks is the need for infrastructure, institutions and services to be fully accessible, keeping in mind the physical and mental state of some elderly persons. Elderly persons and the electoral cycle 2018 In March 2018, the ZESN demographic breakdown of the biometric voters registrations (BVR) roll, showed the percentage of elderly persons was extremely low and concentrated in the rural provinces of the country. Namely, Manicaland, Mashonaland East and the Midlands had the highest percentages of elderly persons as registered voters. Urban areas, such as Bulawayo and Harare, had fewer than 20,000 elderly voters in each city. During the voter registration phase, ZESN noted that while elderly persons were given priority during the registration process, accessibility to registration sites proved a huge challenge for some. Mobile services were not provided and BVR sites were poorly designed and quite a distance away from residential villages. Moreover, many were turned away at registration points for failing to produce government-approved birth certificates. 32