Practise safe sex, party youths urged

Conrad Mupesa in Mhangura
More than 40 Zanu-PF youths from Hurungwe district were recently tested for HIV during a party’s provincial interface meeting held at Karoi Country Club.

The youths, who were attending the meeting with their provincial party leadership, took advantage of testing and counselling services that were organised by the Zanu-PF provincial Women’s League secretary for health Cde Precious Chinhamo Masango. Cde Masango encouraged the youths to get tested for HIV and know their status.

“As we are approaching the 2018 harmonised elections, the party needs hard- working and healthy youths as they are the vanguard of the party,” Cde Masango said.

“The idea of providing you with an opportunity to get free testing and counselling helps those who are positive so that we will facilitate that they get medication immediately.” Cde Masango said President Emmerson Mnangagwa would win resoundingly if the youths participated fully during the campaigns.

“It is possible for President Mnangagwa to garner 100 percent of the votes in this year’s elections if youths play their part during the campaigns,” she said. “They can do this by staying healthy or taking good care of their health.” Cde Masango urged the youths to use protection to avoid contacting HIV and other related diseases.

“Youths during gatherings tend to get wild and indulge in unprotected sexual activities which could lead to contacting diseases like gonorrhoea and syphilis,” she said.

“Unwanted pregnancies have also affcted their participation in the party’s programmes as some parents restrict their children in fear of unwanted youth pregnancies. As a party, we are imploring all of you to use condoms.”

Ce Masango distributed condoms to the youths during the meeting. Zanu-PF provincial youth chairperson Cde Vegai Musengi urged youths to be responsible with their health so that they worked tirelessly in party programmes. He implored the youths to register to vote during the extended the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission mop-up registration exercise. Various national and provincial party members attended the meeting.