admin“We are worried about the reluctance of policy makers in formulating this policy. It seems the country is blind to the seriousness of the issue, we are destroying the future of Zimbabwe, these young people are the future,” said Chief Zimunya at a dialogue meeting between representatives of youth organisations, parliamentarians and Safaids on Wednesday.
The development follows calls made by some chiefs at the beginning of the year for the distribution of condoms in schools.
A recent survey by SafAids revealed that knowledge of condoms is high in Zimbabwe but is not being translated into action by young people and 36 percent of youths in the 15 to 19 age group who had had sex risked pregnancy or HIV by not using condoms.
According to UNAIDS (2008) adolescents and youths make up 25 percent of the sexually active population in Zimbabwe and 50 percent account for newly acquired Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Chief Zimunya said there was need for policy makers to be apt in reaching a conclusion.
“We have said this before, brought it before parliament and it seems most of us concur on the importance of this issue to the development of Zimbabwe, times are changing.
“As traditional leaders we have accepted it, so the nation needs to appreciate that as well,” she said.
This development comes amid reports of higher levels of new infections among children of school-going age.
Chief Mtshane from Bubi said: “We should cascade the importance of this initiative to the lower levels of Zimbabwe for meaningful development.
“Relevant ministries should support these programmes to protect the youths who are our future.”
Chief Gambiza from Midlands said there was need for speedy implementation of the idea of introducing condom and sexual reproduction education at an intensified level.
“Parents need to change their thinking. It is surprising that some still think it is disastrous. We need to implement this speedily, and changing times call for new thinking. There was a time when it seemed impossible but now we need it as it can be possible,” he said.
Highfield MP Simon Hove said there was a need to complement the idea of condoms with means of sex education.
“As a country we need to address the symptoms because children are engaging early in sex because of something, which is lack of education about sex.
“We can borrow from those in Chiredzi who are educating their children early and curbing early inception of sexual activities among them,” he said.
Women Action Group advocate Ms Olga Makoni said there was a greater need to bring policy makers to understanding the need for interventions such as condoms in preventing the prevalence of HIV in the country.
The dialogue was held under the theme “Investing in young people is investing in the future: Scaling up access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescents and young people”.
Online Reporter