The decision by the government to introduce contraceptives to adolescents goes down as one of the most astounding in post-independence Zimbabwe. LandScape with Tangai Chipangura
Zimbabweans have been rudely shocked by this decision, which surprisingly has already been implemented — apparently without the knowledge or consultation of the citizens of this country.
It is not easy to understand how authorities could come up with and implement a decision to distribute condoms, birth control pills and other contraceptives such as implants and even injectables to 10-year-olds.
Whatever excuse may be proffered, it remains abominable that Fourth Graders come home from school carrying condoms and birth control pills in their pockets.
True, it is disturbing that we have a growing number of child pregnancies, but whether or not the decision to literally encourage safe sex among children was the best way to go, could not have been allowed to be a unilateral decision by executives in government or in a particular ministry.
It is clear the decision was not made by policymakers because such a move would have required bringing the issue before Parliament and or Cabinet for debate.
The decision to dole out condoms and birth control pills to primary school children cannot be taken for granted or be expected to be made by a small group of individuals.
In fact, by revealing that there already are 91 functioning centres where our children can go and access sex tools, government has ambushed the people with a very ugly surprise.
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There can never be a solution that involves discarding a people’s morality and nationhood — no matter the magnitude of the problem.
The gravity of child pregnancies and child pregnancy mortality rates is not and can never be comparable to the damage that is visited upon the same children by exposing them to “lawful” sex crimes and moral decadence.
The ultimate goal of this scandalous decision is to remove from the statutes laws that protect children from sex perverts so that we can lawfully allow the children to engage in sex at the age of 10 — as long as it is safe sex that will not result in pregnancy! Can a nation really accept this kind of thinking?
True, measures should be taken to curb child pregnancies but such measures should not, in the process, encourage sexual activity among children.
In fact, fear of pregnancy has been one of the factors that have worked towards discouraging adolescent sex. If then, we are going to go out of our way to spend tax payer’s money towards the provisions of facilities that take away that fear by making child sex safe, then what are we doing really?
In my opinion, pregnancy should be one of the major factors that should dissuade children from experimenting with sex.
Children should know that pregnancy is dangerous for young bodies and destroys their future. Inviting them to come and collect tools to avoid the pregnancy is being irresponsible — cruel. It is in fact criminal!
This could only be done under the rare circumstances where it is known that the children are inevitably going into sex slavery — where prevention of pregnancy, and disease, would be the only option.
Under normal circumstances where parents have opportunity to control their children, allowing children near such sex tools should never be acceptable. It cannot be a solution to any problem.
The outrage expressed by readers of articles published about this monstrosity is totally justified.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care should concern itself with taking care of our children and their health, not to destroy them and their future.
Pronouncements by the director of family health in the ministry, Dr Bernard Madzima that “authorities took the decision following a sharp increase in teenage pregnancies and a high maternal mortality rate” should be qualified further.
It would be interesting to know which authorities made that decision, when and after what processes.
The fact that there are so many centres that are already operating, distributing contraceptives to kids, even “after counseling” them, points at a development that could have already started deforming the fabric of our society without the people knowing a thing.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care owes the nation an explanation about the circumstances under which they proceeded to make such decisions and implement them without consultation.
Would it not have been the right thing to put such a sensitive issue to debate and, were it to pass, to adequately inform and educate people on the implications and the extent of the consequences of such a move, so that people can make informed decisions about their children.
Children are delicate. Making a deliberate effort to remove the laws that protect them and expose them to the dangers associated with premarital sex is cruel, not remedial.
