daglous masveta
Walter Nyamukondiwa in KAROI
Traditional leaders have called for collaboration with the police and other Government agencies in addressing social ills such as drug abuse, child marriages and gender-based violence as these are increasing transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
On their part, the chiefs have pledged to be strict with members of the community to stem the vices that have become widespread.
At least 24 out of the 30 traditional leaders from Mashonaland West Province attended a workshop held in Karoi recently to formulate strategies to mitigate social ills.
The workshop was organised by the National Aids Council (NAC) and follows a meeting with the Chiefs’ Council in October, which reiterated the strategic role of chiefs in addressing such vices.
Chief Chundu of Hurungwe hailed NAC for holding the workshop.
“Gender-based violence, drug and substance abuse and child marriages are contributing to the transmission of HIV,” he said.
“As chiefs we need to do more to rein in our people if we are to win this war. Every chief has some control over the people and their decree carries weight. So we need to be firm.”
Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Marian Chombo said Government needs everyone’s support in dealing with social menace.
“We should put our heads together and address the challenges of child marriages and drug abuse as they are robbing children of their childhood,” she said.
“Let children be children. There is need for punitive measures against men who take away children’s innocence. The chiefs should take a leading role in influencing behaviour change in their respective communities.”
Previous interventions, she said, achieved limited success as traditional leaders did not take a leading role.
“We can put as many laws as we can but without involving the chiefs we will not achieve anything. Perpetrators know that at the end of the day they will face a village head or a chief in their area,” she said.
Minister Chombo also said parents should have open conversations with their children.
NAC has noted an increase in the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among those aged between 10 and 24 years.
Studies have shown that the increase in transmission is being fueled by drug and substance abuse which lowers perception of risk and child marriages, which exposes children to infections owing intergenerational intercourse.
NAC Mashonaland West provincial manager Mr David Nyamurera also said traditional leaders are key in influencing change.
“If the social ills are not addressed, they will continue to fuel the spread of HIV infections,” said Mr Nyamurera.
He said the 95-95-95 targets of people knowing their status, receiving treatment and achieving viral suppression are under threat owing to the widespread social ills.
daniel chigunwe
