Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
SPOUSAL separation has emerged as one of the leading contributors to new HIV infections in Bulilima and Mangwe districts, where a significant number of men are employed in neighbouring countries such as Botswana and South Africa.
This was revealed on Monday during a briefing to mark the commencement of a National Aids Council (NAC) media tour in the two districts. Bulilima District Aids Co-ordinator, Mr Ronald Hanyane, stated that persistent migration to Botswana, South Africa and local urban centres continues to disrupt families and heighten vulnerability to HIV.
He noted that the majority of men from Bulilima travel without proper documentation, often resorting to illegal border crossing — a practice that places them, particularly the youth, in unsafe and high-risk environments.
“Spousal separation is one of the key drivers of new HIV infections in the district. In most cases, people travelling to neighbouring countries do not possess valid travel documents, so they resort to illegal border jumping.
“These illegal border jumpers, who are frequently young people, become susceptible to abuse, arrest due to lack of identification, or engage in unsafe sexual practices as a means of securing employment or accommodation. This contributes to the rise in new HIV infections,” said Mr Hanyane.
Bulilima at present, has an HIV prevalence rate of 17.6 percent — the highest in Matabeleland South. The estimated incidence rate stands at 0.26 percent, with females disproportionately affected at 0.38 percent compared to 0.17 percent among males.
Identified hotspot areas include Maitengwe Border Post, Madlambudzi Growth Point, Ndolwane Growth Point and Bhagani Business Centre. Other contributing risk factors include intergenerational relationships, multiple concurrent partnerships, inconsistent condom use and low risk perception.
In Mangwe District, NAC Programmes Co-ordinator Ms Elenny Mpofu reported a prevalence rate of 16.8 percent, with an incidence rate of 0.27 percent among individuals aged 15 to 49 — the highest in the province.
She said that the district continues to face entrenched risk factors such as spousal separation, age-disparate relationships, multiple sexual partners, casual unprotected sex, transactional sex and poverty.
“Poverty increases vulnerability to HIV infection, particularly among adolescent girls and young women. Mangwe has a high number of child-headed households, which contributes to teenage pregnancies and child marriages,” said Ms Mpofu.
She added that the district experiences a significant influx of job seekers and informal traders travelling to Botswana and South Africa, while artisanal mining activities in wards 5, 8, 15, and 17 have also led to risky sexual behaviours.
NAC Matabeleland South Provincial Manager, Mr Mgcini Sibanda, emphasised the vital role of the media in the fight against HIV. He said the tour would highlight key prevention initiatives such as the Community ART Refill Groups (CARGs) and the Sista2Sista mentorship model.
—@DubeMatutu
