The Tonga culture and tradition is posing a serious challenge in the fight against HIV and Aids in the Binga community since sexual matters are regarded as taboo and not discussed openly.
Tonga people are some of the few people who still observe and jealously guard their culture and traditions.
Innocent Isaac, the project coordinator for Ntengwe centre, an HIV and Aids advocacy organisation, said traditional Tonga practices stifled many of their programmes as debate about sex was regarded as taboo.
“The challenge we have is that HIV and Aids is mostly spread through sexual contact.
“However, the Tonga do not have the culture of speaking openly about issues of sexuality even at household level,” he said.
“This means that it becomes difficult for one to go for an HIV test as the community will believe they have been promiscuous.”
Isaac said even after an HIV test, most Tonga people declined to reveal their status for fear of stigmatisation.
He said Ntengwe centre mainly targeted youths who are taught about HIV and Aids.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“However, not many youths come to the centre as they are afraid of telling their parents that they are going for HIV and Aids lessons,” he said.
“This is because sex is not discussed at home hence there is resistance from parents to allow their children to be educated about issues of HIV and Aids.
“Polygamy is a tradition which the Tonga people still practise. It therefore becomes a challenge to speak about the uptake of condom use at household level.”
He also said issues of witchcraft, which were common in the community, posed a challenge to HIV and Aids issues.
“The Tonga people believe in witchcraft. This also becomes a challenge because some of the traditional healers tell people that their neighbours are bewitching them yet the person would be suffering from HIV and Aids,” said Isaac.
The Ntengwe centre was formed in 1999 to disseminate information on HIV and Aids among Tonga communities.
Ntengwe is the Tonga name for a black bird whose shrill sound is associated with impending danger.
