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they deemed right for the youth.
This was not always the case, let the young people speak for themselves and then weigh what they have said and reach a decision.
That some children are indulging in early sex is not in doubt but the panacea does not lie in dolling out condoms in schools, said the Junior MP for Hatfield, Honourable Sharon Shamuyarira and the Child Speaker of  Parliament, Vladmir Tawanda Tomuseni.

The two speaking on behalf of the Junior Parliament said they had engaged their counterparts in schools and wondered where the notion that they wanted condoms in schools was coming from.
“We were equally surprised to hear that we wanted condoms in schools. That there are a few mischievous children in schools can not be disputed but that can not be used as a barometer for all school children to be in need of condoms,” said Hon Shamuyarira.

Her counterpart, the Speaker Hon Tomuseni called on the youths to take responsibility for their actions and not want to address symptoms yet they ignored the real problem.
“The issue of condoms in schools is treating the symptoms. Why not address the real cause here, which is taking charge of one’s actions. Youths need to be responsible,” Tomuseni said.
He went on to add that abstinence was the pillar that youths ought to found their values on and from there, they would not encounter what they termed “challenges” in schools.
The Speaker blasted those who were bent on changing the role of the school to suit their needs.

“Schools are institutions of learning and let them be. If one needs to engage in ‘extra’ extra-mural activities not in the school syllabus then they needed to go out to the relevant places where they can access the services,” he said.
He went on to say that they as youth could not let a few rotten apples spoil the learning curricula.
“We can not fold our arms and let those who want to indulge rule the roost. That they are indulging in sex is their own business not to disturb the learning process. Imagine what schools would be if the move was carried out?” asked the Speaker.

“If anyone wants to do that they are free but not to be supplied in schools, which are meant for learning purposes,” he said.
He said that we would end up with situations where even ten-year-olds ended up sleeping around because they had been given the apparatus to use, so to speak.
As they were given pens and books they learnt to read and write and when given condoms they were urged to indulge. He asked what kind of society were we turning too.

The youth went on to dispute the fact that as teens that were born HIV positive grew into adolescents, there was a high risk of HIV spreading in schools.
The youths said if there was a well-behaved group, it was the latter.
“Let people speak for themselves. The teens that were born HIV positive are very responsible. They are not out to spread the virus, rather, help them correctly. Right now when in school their needs are counselling, social support, access to medication and attaining an education, not to be given condoms,”said the Speaker.

“Look here, a person who is not responsible for their actions is the one who gets infected and they in turn deliberately spread the virus,” said Shamuyarira.
The youths said organisations dealing with them ought to refocus some of their programmes.
“A shout-out, loud to organisations is, ‘use money correctly’. I as an MP only knew of Life Skills Education syllabus today. I only heard of it here. It’s not for them to keep but to tell those who matter, the young people in this case,”said Shamuyarira.

Tomuseni went on to say there seemed to be confusion on the target group on condom distribution.
“How can we be talking of condom use to 13 to 15 year-olds. To this group its abstinence nothing more. Teach them life values,” said Tomuseni.
He went on to say he can not speak on behalf of tertiary colleges, but these being young adults and in different environments, their needs were different from them, the primary and secondary school going age.

Shamuyarira went on to castigate the gender inequality existing at present.
She queried how the law arrived at having girls solemnising a valid customary marriage at 16 and the boys at 18.

The argument that girls mature faster biologically is to be dismissed when taking such important decisions.
She argued that by allowing girls to get married earlier than the boys, this put the girl child at risk of getting HIV infection.
“Where we expect the law to protect us, they throw us into the deep end with no life jacket. Girls mature earlier biologically than boys, yes, but that is not a measurement for such important issues,” she said.

“Using that barometer is wrong. It takes the human rights of the girl child away. Can I get my driver’s licence and national ID two years before the boy if we use that measure,” she asked.
“That would mean I get my licence at 14 and national ID two years earlier if that is the yard stick. Boys can enter a valid customary marriage at 18 while girls can seal it at 16, please revisit this grey area, we are not in hurry to get married, rather equal opportunities for both the boy and girl,” said Shamuyarira.

She called on the lawmakers to revisit that area of concern.
“It’s what is right for the boy child right for the girl child. We are talking gender balance no matter how different are biological make up is. We are not different,” she added.
The youth called on having youth friendly centres and those who felt needed to access condoms could get them from such places.

They echoed that they realised the danger and risk that the spread of HIV had on youths, but urged decision makers to consult them and not put a blanket cover – a one size fits all approach to their reproductive health.
There was no need to build these youth friendly centres, they said.
“Existing facilities in the suburbs and even rural areas are lying ideal. Convert these to youth friendly centres where youths meet, refresh and learn life skills,” the two concurred.
It appears, the media, the readers, the parents had come to a warped conclusion without having engaged the stakeholders in this matter, the children.
They have spoken, they do not need condoms in schools and those youths who need them can access them at appropriate places.
With responsible behaviour, we can arrest the spread of HIV.

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