Chronicle Editor
Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
A SURGE in artisanal mining activities in Kwekwe has been identified as a key factor contributing to a significantly high HIV population, which stands at 33 589 — accounting for a substantial portion of the Midlands Province’s estimated total HIV population of 165 018 according to recent statistics from the National Aids Council (NAC).
In contrast, Chirumhanzu District has the lowest HIV population in the province, with only 10 061 reported cases. The NAC figures indicate an HIV prevalence rate of 10.94 percent across the Midlands Province, with Zvishavane District showing the highest prevalence at 16.37 percent.
Gokwe North District on the other hand, has the lowest prevalence rate at 5,81 percent. The province also reports an HIV incidence rate of 0,21 percent, peaking in Zvishavane at 0.,1 percent and dipping to 0.12 percent in Gokwe North.
The figures were released at the occasion to mark the opening of a low-cost boarding facility at Msilahobe Secondary School in Silobela where NAC Midlands Provincial Manager Mr Mambewu Shumba noted that the influx of artisanal miners has led to an increase in sex work within Kwekwe.
“Kwekwe District has the highest number of new adult infections, totaling 432, with 275 of those cases involving females. This can be attributed to the area’s agricultural landscape and the presence of communal farms and resettlement areas, as well as the artisanal mining activities,” he said.
Mr Shumba highlighted the engendered power relations faced by adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in the district, which exacerbate their vulnerability to sexual exploitation.
Having recognised the risk of HIV transmission from long distances travelled by students, he said, NAC has implemented interventions aimed at protecting the population of adolescent girls and young women.
One significant initiative includes the construction of low-cost boarding facilities in Kwekwe, designed to provide safer accommodation for girls who may face exploitation during their commutes to school.
In collaboration with development partners like PLAN, NAC has already established eight such facilities across Zimbabwe, including two in Kwekwe – one located at St. Jude’s Secondary School in Zhombe and another at Msilahobe Secondary School in Silobela.
This program is part of a broader effort to curb school dropouts and early marriages that contribute to new HIV infections among young women.
“The initiative for low-cost boarding facilities aims to shield AGYW and mitigate the risk of HIV infection stemming from commuting long distances and navigating isolated or bushy areas, which so often expose them to sexual abuse,” Mr Shumba said.
School officials reported that some girls travel up to 18 kilometres to reach Msilahobe Secondary, often encountering treacherous terrain and rivers that become impassable during the rainy season.
These challenges have led to significant dropout rates, with the school recording 30 dropouts in just the first term. The risks are exacerbated by the nearby artisanal miners, who may lure vulnerable students into unsafe situations.
The comprehensive AGYW programme, active since 2018, aims to address various contributors to new HIV infections, including education access challenges, limited knowledge of sexual and reproductive health rights and incidents of gender-based violence.
Through initiatives like the sister-to-sister program, male engagement efforts and collaborative projects with agencies like PLAN and ZACH, NAC continues to work toward reducing HIV infection rates by tackling the socio-economic factors at play.
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