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Teen sex: Debate rages on

November 1, 2013

Vitalis Kavele Features Writer
A series of insightful inter-high school debates held around Zimbabwe are bringing in fresh ideas on how teenagers think about sexual and reproductive health issues affecting them.
Teenagers in Zimbabwe and around Africa face challenges ranging from teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, drug abuse and promiscuity among others.

One such debate with the motion “Allowing minors to access contraceptives in Zimbabwe is a progressive and necessary development in the 21st century” was held on October 11 by the Mbare Association of Colleges at Stodart Hall where at least 200 teenagers between 13 and 18 years from Arch Academy, Crystal College, Honours Academy, Reliance College and Quick Pass Academy participated.

The students who supported the motion reasonably revealed that it is not a secret that teenagers are engaging in sex and are exposed to serious sexually-related problems just like the adults.

Nyasha Zavare (18), a Lower Six pupil from Cabal Christian College in Mbare, said the society is faced with a harsh reality that minors need to be protected from the effects of preliminary sexual engagements.

“Although Zimbabwe is a Christian nation, the idea that minors’ access contraceptives should be seriously considered as this would lead to a considerable reduction in teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections,” he said.

Quick Pass Academy Ordinary Level pupil Crynos Momingo said that parents should embrace the idea that minors be allowed to access contraceptives since it is the guaranteed way to ensure safety from sexually related problems.

Momingo (17) said: “It remains a challenge to effectively deter minors from sexual practice hence it is visibly safe to give them contraceptive.”

The opposing side, however, argued from a moral perspective saying allowing minors access to contraceptives would be tantamount to giving them the green light to engage in sexual activities against the tenets of our socialisation.

This was despite the fact that they acknowledged that the technical challenge will remain.
They vehemently argued that the African culture regards open talk on sex and reproduction as taboo and that submitting to the idea that young people be allowed access to contraceptives would be equivalent to acculturation.

Eva Ngoma (18) from Crystal College argued that Government should never give in to cultural subversion under the pretext of international best practice.

“Minors still need parental guidance. We have our own way of mitigating sexually related challenges like abstinence of which our churches are always seized with.”

Yolanda Gweshe buttressed the argument that contraceptives need not to be availed to minors.
“Such a move would be a sure green light for the kids to engage sexually.”

There, however, is some parity in the discussions by adolescents from distinctive economic, social and religious backgrounds although conclusively there is dire need to de-construct the people’s mindsets and reconstruct the same in accordance with the realistic contextual dictates, as young people are equally exposed to sexual health challenges which, if left unattended, have a negative bearing to their future.

These watershed debates are organised by the Zimbabwe Children Support Organisation and the New Generations Trust under the theme “Let them speak” with the aim of creating a defining moment on the thorny issue of contraceptives. Zichiso programmes co-ordinator Mr Martin Mavhengere, who is the chief adjudicator of the debates, noted an acknowledgement in sexual activities among teenagers while others argue that having contraceptives availed to minors needs to be dismissed with contempt.

He observed that it was imperative that the youngsters are engaged as part of searching for solutions to the sexually related challenges they face.

He wanted the intensification of debates on this topical issue so as to emerge with the best way forward that serves the interests of all affected groups.

“We cannot afford to shy away from this thorny issue; it’s better we bring it forward and deliberate on it such that whatever action is taken thereafter will be well informed,” he said.

New Generations Trust programmes co-ordinator Mr Elton Shumba shared the same sentiments that Zimbabwe’s national moral values and Christian background need to be upheld amidst continued efforts to interrogate how safe sex information be made a priority and commonplace even to minors in the endeavour to reducing the HIV and Aids prevalence.

Health experts say there is certainly need to waive a bit on idealism and allow for realistic diagnosis of issues affecting our minors.
The Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey 2010/11 reported a high rate of teenage pregnancies (10,8 percent), for the 15 to 19 age group attributable to common sexual relationships between adolescent girls and men five to 10 years older.

The high HIV prevalence of 4,2 percent among women aged 15 to 19 (ZDHS 2010/11) allegedly fuelled by inter-generational sexual relationships is a serious cause for concern that should not be left to providence alone.

Ultimately it seems the nation has lost the war as more teenagers are engaging in sexual activity exposing them to HIV.
The experts believe that these statistics vividly demonstrate that young people’s limited access to contraceptives is a sad phenomenon that needs urgent attention.

Although Government is guided by social, cultural and medical factors in the formulation of all policies, teenage pregnancy remains a serious social problem whose successful reduction is embedded in an open, tolerant, realistic attitude to sexuality.

The underlying factor here is that some of these minors acknowledge indulgence in sexual activities and they say they are better off with contraceptives to guard against unwanted pregnancies and the contraction of sexually transmitted diseases.

There are no easy answers to this. Zimbabweans will have to decide on their own.

           Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
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