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Munyaradzi Musiiwa, Midlands Correspondent
FIRST Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa has expressed concern over the cases of new HIV infections among youths and adolescents, adding this could be as a result of disregard of people’s culture.
Addressing widows in Gweru on Wednesday, Amai Mnangagwa said adolescents and youths were no longer getting a proper orientation to adulthood from their parents as was the case before.
She said this has resulted in the increase in new HIV infections among youths which has become a cause for concern. National Aids Council (Nac) of Zimbabwe recently announced that new HIV infections were rampant among youths between the ages of 15 to 24. The First Lady said parents should educate their children on how to conduct themselves and to have knowledge on issues of HIV.
“As women it is our duty to protect our children, particularly girls. Sometimes we ignore our children and we do not teach them how to dress properly. If we do not control them at that age that is when we see issues of HIV going up. Ko ingapere sei HIV infection if we are not educating our children? It is your duty as parents to make sure we teach our children these issues and reduce new HIV infections among youths,” she said.
Amai Mnangagwa also bemoaned sexual abuse against women and juveniles. She said there were rampant cases of sexual abuse perpetrated against juveniles and forced marriages.
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