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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
Bulawayo Bureau
DEVELOPMENT partners implementing sexual and reproductive health programmes have been urged to focus more on empowering young girls to abstain and not engage in premature sexual activities.
Speaking recently at the 2024 National Gender Forum where she was representing the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, said educating young girls to cherish and respect their bodies was crucial in building a nation with values of Ubuntu.
She said young boys must equally be taught to propose for marriage and not for sex.
Addressing some organisations that offer sexual reproductive health programmes during a tour of exhibition stands at the event, Dr Nyoni said developmental partners have to divert from teaching youngsters more about practicing safe sex.
“As I am here representing our mother, the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, I have to emphasise the message that she always shares. She has always emphasised that young girls shouldn’t be taught a lot about engaging in sexual activities, but they must be taught to say ‘no’,” said Dr Nyoni.
“Let’s empower young girls so that they have courage to say no when someone makes sexual advances. They must know that their bodies are special and sacred as we have seen our mothers doing. Our mother, the First Lady has always taught boys that they shouldn’t propose for sex, but they must propose with the intention of holy matrimony.”
Dr Nyoni commended Amai Mnangagwa for her great work in building the nation and ensuring the future of young girls and boys is safeguarded.
She said development partners have to join in this noble cause to mould dignified characters. She commended various organisations and individuals for great displays at the forum.
Dr Nyoni also said there is a need for players who are into craft work to produce according to market demands and not just for display.
“I was impressed by the exhibitions that were displayed here at this forum. To the women that I have seen here who are into craftwork, first figure out why you are making the particular product and who you will sell it to or where you will sell it?” she said.
“Unfortunately, women usually make products just because they would have seen them somewhere. Business ethics require one to identify a market first.
“Some women have moved into making products from recycled material. That’s good, but let’s recycle and make products from material that is environmentally friendly and material that won’t become a health hazard.
“Let’s produce things that we can sell in order to get income and not what we will just display. Let’s be business-oriented in our operations. Let’s produce exquisite, but relevant wares,” she said.
This year’s National Gender Forum was held under the theme: “Gender, Environment and Climate Change: Building Resilience and Sustainable Development through Gender Equality”.
The event sought to map specific environmental and climate change challenges in the country, to understand the differential gendered impact of environmental degradation and climate change in Zimbabwe.
It was also a platform to proffer recommendations for building resilience and promoting sustainable development through mainstreaming gender and increasing awareness on environment and climate change issues.
The event took place at the backdrop of multiple and intersecting environment and climate change challenges, which include environmental degradation, water, land and air pollution, mounting water and sanitation challenges, human/wildlife conflict, wetlands disruption, more frequent and severe weather events such as floods, heatwaves and droughts among many other challenges.
The devastating impact of climate change, environmental degradation, and unsustainable development practices threaten to undermine the progress made towards gender equality over the years. Women, in particular, bear the brunt of these challenges as they rely heavily on natural resources for their livelihoods and are often excluded from decision-making processes related to environment and climate change issues.
Online Reporter