Chronicle Editor
Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, [email protected]
BEFORE he became a commissioner of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for five years, Dr Qhubani Moyo was the face of a groundbreaking campaign to promote condom use in Zimbabwe in 1996, when HIV and AIDS were ravaging the country.
At that time, about 1, 4 million Zimbabweans were living with HIV, but only nine percent of them had developed AIDS. Many were unaware of their status and had no signs of illness. Condoms were a new and stigmatised concept, and many people preferred to risk their lives by having unprotected sex.
Moyo, who was a student at the University of Zimbabwe in his early 20s, decided to take part in the advert as a way of debunking the myths and encouraging his peers to practice safe sex. He said many people believed that condoms reduced pleasure, which was a false and dangerous assumption. He said condoms, which have saved thousands of lives since their introduction, were designed to preserve sensitivity and pleasure.
The advert, which featured Moyo and Stella Dozva, a journalism student at Harare Polytechnic, was called Protector Plus and had the slogan was: “Strong, Sensitive: A friend for life.”
It was the first-ever condom billboard and advert in Zimbabwe, and it had a huge impact on raising awareness and changing attitudes.
“Indeed, I was the one in that advert back in the 1990s at the peak of HIV and Aids. As a student studying at the University of Zimbabwe, it was important for me to spread word on the efficacy of condoms which I believe have helped save many lives from sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. The advert had a great impact and significant in that time as we were battling new infections and a whole of issues associated HIV.
“The message is still the same today, condom use is encouraged. I still believe that we should continue preaching the message of abstinence and those who cannot abstain should at least condomise to reduce risks of infections. Yes, people may argue that unprotected sex is better but that’s a myth because condoms aren’t made of plastic as people assume. It was made in such a way that it does not destroy sensitivity associated with pleasure,” said Moyo.
Zimbabwe has continued to celebrate World Condom Day every year on 13 February, a day that offers people free condoms and vital information on how to use them correctly and protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies.
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, condom distribution in Zimbabwe has fluctuated over the years, with female condoms being less popular than male condoms. In 2017, about 143 million condoms were distributed, but this number dropped to 81 million in 2020, possibly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, the number rose to 108 million male condoms and 3, 4 million female condoms, but in 2022, it increased to 119, 6 million male condoms and decreased to 1, 6 million female condoms.
The ministry also reported that cases of genital ulcers and vaginal discharge, which are indicators of sexually transmitted infections, increased from 2021 to 2022. Genital ulcers went up from 28 538 to 36 267, while vaginal discharge went up from 77 347 to 79 194.
Moyo, who is now a prominent political analyst and academic, has not forgotten his role in the condom campaign.
He once joked on his Facebook page that he was the protector of the nation and that he deserved the votes of all those who benefited from his product.
“For quite a long time people have been asking who these people are and that ‘vachirivese’. This is me sometime in 1996 at the UZ. The lady is Stella Dozva she was doing Journalism at Harare Poly. We just met for the advert.
“One day when I decide to run for President I will claim that I will be your PROTECTOR- Because I am strong and sensitive and will be your friend for life. So all beneficiaries of that product you owe me a vote! I am sure I can get 10 million votes,” he said.
Online Reporter