The Sunday News
Dumani Moyo Sunday News Reporter
INTER-GENERATIONAL relationships have become prevalent in rural Gwanda, amid revelations that in some villages teenagers fall in love with people above the age of 50.
Self Help Development Foundation of Zimbabwe regional training officer Mr Enos Maphosa last week encouraged the Gwanda community to shun these relationships in order to avoid the spread of HIV.
“We have heard of instances in which teenagers in the community are having sexual intercourse with old people. These children also go and sleep with their age mates. If this is not avoided, it will increase the spread of HIV and STIs. There is need to actively participate in staying away from inter-generational relationships,” he said.
According to villagers, inter-generational relationships have led to child pregnancies. The villagers also said that last year in Gwanda’s Ward 3 more than 10 school pupils were impregnated by men old enough to be their parents.
A nurse from Mzimuni Rural Health Centre, Mr Atwell Moyo, said they always come across young pregnant children seeking assistance from the institution.
“It is very sad that in this community we experience teenage pregnancies. We have seen some pregnant children as young as 13. They come to this institution looking for assistance. We help them on what we are able to do for them,” said Mr Moyo
During a talk show organised by Self Help Development Foundation, villagers shared their experiences and questioned legal and gender experts on child abuse and inter-generational relationships.
The acting development officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mr George Dube, said parents and guardians should play a crucial role in teaching their children about the risks of inter-generational relationships.
“In the yester-years, we used to have aunties and uncles who would explain to children about dating and marriages. Nowadays those people are not active enough to guide children. Let us be the uncles and aunties and warn our children against these dangerous relationships,” he said.
A legal expert, Mr Alaska Mapfuka, told the villagers that inter-generational relationships were seen as rape cases.
“If you have sexual intercourse with a child who is one to 12 years old, whether he or she agrees or not, the law takes it as a rape case. If he or she is older than that and if he or she feels abused, it will be taken as a rape case as well and the accused will be sentenced to 10 years in jail or more,” said Mr Mapfuka.
