Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
Authorities in Beitbridge district are calling for stronger community action to protect girls following a surge in cases of sexual abuse cases involving girls aged 17 years and below in the first quarter of this year.
Child sexual abuse, age mixing, induction of young girls into commercial sex work and child marriages are reported as among the key drivers of new HIV infections in the area.
District AIDS Coordinator, Mr Edward Mulaudzi revealed the figures on Friday while speaking to journalists during a provincial media tour organised by the National AIDS Council (NAC).
“All the 42 females abused were children 17 years and below. We also recorded one male abuse case in the same period,” he said.
Mr Mulaudzi said the high number of cases against girls underscores the need for intensified community interventions to protect children and change harmful behaviours.
He also noted that programmes such as the “Not In My Village” campaign, led by traditional leaders, are being used to address child pregnancies, child abuse and gender-based violence at ward and village level.
The DAC urged communities, schools and families to report cases early and work closely with health and law enforcement agencies to ensure survivors access medical care, counselling and justice.
“Beitbridge urban has the highest number of teenage pregnancies (303) followed by Majini (51) followed by Zezani and Chamunangana with (44) each,” said Mr Mulaudzi.
“We are also worried with a trend where we are having more Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and so far more cases were recorded in the 25-49 Years age group (141) followed by 20-24 years with 47 STI cases and the least was in the 10-14 years’ age which recorded 1 case of STI.”
He also mentioned that Beitbridge has the highest new HIV infections, which is consistent with its status as a border town and transport hub, increasing vulnerability.
Speaking during the same tour, Beitbridge District Development coordinator Mrs Sikhangezile Mafu commended NAC and its partners for its heightened efforts to reduce new HIV Infections.
The media tours are part of efforts to assess progress in HIV and AIDS interventions and related social programmes across Matabeleland South province.
