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Child sexual abuse (CSA) is tricked, forced or manipulated touch or sexual contact. This can come as rape, incest, molestation, fondling or sodomy. There is also sexual abuse without touch such as obscene phone calls, exposing one’s genitals, pornography and sexual harassment.

Other forms of abuse are breaking down barriers of privacy (as when young people are permitted to watch sexual intercourse or other adult sexual activities) and exposing a person to sexually stimulating information that is inappropriate for his or her age or level of understanding.

Since we are living in the world full of temptation where many people are committing crime, who can be child molesters or rapists? These can be strangers, acquaintances, domestic workers, parents or even headmasters. Anyone is capable of becoming a rapist or child molester. Therefore, youth should never trust anyone. Someone ones once said, “Love them all but don’t trust them all.”

There are various factors that contribute to child sexual abuse. These are poverty, war, drought and general economic hardships, lack of parental care and guidance, AIDS related deaths leading to child headed families and lack of information among children. There are also cultural factors, for instance, that having sexual intercourse with a virgin can cure aids, cultural ideals that present rigid gender stereotypes- men as sexually aggressive and women as submissive, the societal belief that men must be sexually experienced. Traditional practices such as chiramu and girl child pledging also fuel CSA.

CSA has very negative effects in life. The effects can be grouped in three categories which are physical, emotional and social trauma. CSA also leads to unwanted pregnancies, STI infections, low self esteem, suicide, delinquency, embarrassment or street kids.

Finally, in any relationship, the youth should be given the opportunity to express their thoughts and ideas, their fears and anxieties, share their difficulties and problems, discuss various options, weigh pros and cons of each possibility and learn and practice decision making and assertiveness skills before they face the real challenging situations CSA

Written by Kudzanai Kagweda (Form 3)
Madzivazvido Secondary, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe

What a notorious nurse we have at our local clinic! He is a man of no mercy and the king of the devil. More so he is nibble minded and so vaunt. When he is present on duty at the clinic, patients’ hearts are troubled. The man always shouts at and humiliates patients.

Furthermore, he is very convenient and close to young women and girls. He looks so sexy; he has sweet tongue and natural beauty meaning to say he is very attractive.

Some four years ago he got tested and was found to be HIV positive. He almost had a nervous breakdown. he was totally shaken in disbelief and went mad spoiling others or spreading the diseases to others. Moreover he attracted women and girls of a desired age of 13-28 years. In addition he give them money since he has a career with gives him good standards of living to be more attractive. He also attracts women by giving them pills and other drugs. The danger is that he continues to look healthy.

Unfortunately young women and girls get into sexual activities especially unsafe sex in disregard to the fact that the spread of the disease still continues unabated. Girls and women indulge in sex with the same HIV positive person without knowing it. I remember the proverb: a stitch in time saves nine. About half the population of young women and girls in a locality are sometimes spoiled by only one person.

Written by Candy Zimuto (18 years)
Mashame secondary school, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe

Admire and tsitsi were both in form 2 at Mashame secondary. These two students fell in love a year before.

In less than six months they started having sex.

Tsitsi 14 had just started her monthly period and they felt very safe from the danger if getting pregnant. Three months later tsitsi missed her periods. She became a bit worried about the matter.

One day at school break time she told Admire the news. Admire instantly refused the matter. Tsitsi reported the case to the headmaster who chased both of them from school.

Written by Blantina Chipatiso Zvirevo (16)
Mashame Secondary, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe

Many parents do not talk to their children about sex. Some adults believe that talking about sex will encourage children to have sex. Sex also causes different sexually transmitted diseases or illnesses (STDs or STIs). People get STDs/STIs when they have unprotected sex. Children can understand sexual crimes such as abuse better if they know about sex.

If you have sex with someone, some of the STDs have no signs at first, children often do not realise that they have an STI. Children, men and women should go to the clinic of they have sex with a oral sex.

Children, women and men often learn sex from television, radio and forms of communication. When they don’t talk about, they get wrong information and do wrong things that may risk them. You can only protect yourself from sex when you are abstaining, faithfull to one partner or condomising.

Written by Ekias Mavhenyangwa (15 years)
Mashame secondary school, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe

Yesterday the world was mourning in the darkness but today people are rejoicing because the light is approaching.

Now we are capable of learning about HIV/AIDS at school. Parents at home are always talking about it, saying “lets fight HIV and AIDS not people living with HIV or AIDS”.

We are certain that we can have hunger even though we have HIV positive.

Everywhere you go around our community the message is shouting very loud. The people are now rejoicing in the world of fighting against HIV/AIDS not people who are positive.

Written by Nqoniwe Rashirai (15 years)
Mashame Secondary School, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe

Tatenda, a girl aged 12 lives with her grand parents in Goremusandu village under headman Mashame. Her parents died of AIDS three years ago while she was in grade three. All her relatives refused to take care of her, that why she had to live with her grand parents.

One day, she was left alone at home. Her uncle sesame came and raped her. When she tried to report the case to her grand parents, she was ill treated.

Mr Chinamasa, her grade six teacher observed that something was wrong with her and discussed with her up until she finally got that matter. The teacher reported the case to the headmaster, who took it to the police.

When Sesame was arrested Tatenda’s grand parents refused to live with her accusing her of bringing conflicts in the family. Then what shall she do now?

Written by Tendai Magande (13 years)
Mashame Secondary school, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe

Last year when I turned 16, my mother’s sister succumbed to TB. At first after her death, people went to a traditional healer who lived nearby to ask what had caused her death. As soon as they arrived they were told that evil spirits which were from her husband who also died in 1998 cause the problem.

I later realized that something could be done because this could create enemity and things could be worse between my mother’s family and the Moyo’s where my mother’s sister had once been married. She left her children who are Munoda and Zvamada.

To proceed they were going to live with their father’s relatives. There, they were treated badly since they wanted to take advantage because of both of my next of kin’s parents had divorced. Every morning, they went to fetch water at the river which was almost two and half kilometers away.

They went to school after they had finished their chores. This meant they were always late for school. This pained me a lot. I did not know why, may be they did know they had nowhere to go. Also they did not bought them even a single cloth to them.

They were told that if they wanted clothes, they should go and rise their parents since they always told them that their did not want to breath, they were lazy, that’s why they died.

When the village head heard that they were abused in that way, he warned their guardian that if those things happened next time he would get into trouble if they reported to the police.

Written by Theresa Katopa (17 years)
Mashame Secondary school, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe.

I am Lovejoy from Simchembo Secondary School. I am a teenage and a member of the Anti-Aids Club (AAC). Our aim is to prevent the spread of HIV.

I wanted to be one of those tested sexual activist while l am still at school. As l had that it is nice and didn’t know that this fruit will make my life have an ugly tomorrow as l will soon be HIV positive. Pupils at my school knew no one to speak to about HIV and AIDS; the behaviour of students was becoming wayward as they had no one to look up to. But the introduction of the AAC opened the eyes of my fellow peers as they got facts about HIV and AIDS, and also its effects to young people.

As a club we are now well informed and we are spreading information about HIV and AIDS to our communities including our on families, we are hopeful that by God’s grace we are going to combat the disease.

I am really grateful to Concern Worldwide for the support they are giving to our AAC club.

Written by Lovejoy Ncube (form 3)
Simchembu Secondary School, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe

Tendai and Tapiwa are good friends. They became lovers. Both of them attend the same school. One day Tapiwa decided to have sex with Tendai to prove that they loved each other. He decided to approach Tendai about this. When Tendai heard Tapiwa’s proposal, she was very surprised and she refused to have sex with him.

Tapiwa then said to her girl friend “l will abandon you and look for other girls who might dance to my tune”. But Tendai knew a lot about HIV/AIDS transmission because she is a member of the Anti-Aids Club.

There are many ways in which people can protect themselves from HIV/AIDS for example, avoid sharing sharp instruments, no sex before marriage, sticking to one faithful partner. Anti-AIDS Clubs help to disseminate information through drama, sports and lessons etc.

According one of our sessions it was learnt that a mosquito can not spread HIV and also that HIV AND AIDS can not be spread through shaking hands.

Written by Trust Sinamapande (Form 3)
Simchembo Secondary School, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe