Delay worries chiefs

Zimbabwe, these young people are the future,” said Chief Zimunya at a 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 and 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 Mtshane from Bubi said, “We should cascade the importance of this initiative to the lower levels of Zim­babwe for meaningful development.”
Chief Gambiza from Midlands said there was need for speedy implementa­tion of the idea of introducing condoms and sexual reproduction education in schools.
“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.”