A CHIEF in Choma district in Southern Province has called for an immediate halt on all activities that promote HIV and AIDS and the introduction of traditional schools as a tool for fighting gender-based violence (GBV).
Chief Singani says negative vices such as (GBV) has for a long time contributed to the increase of HIV and AIDS in the country as it promotes disintegration of families.
The traditional leader, who led a group of headmen and women from Singani HIV and AIDS Prevention Project, said this in Chikuni area when the group visited Mukanzubo Culture Women’s Association.
He said there is urgent need to find a lasting solution to issues related to GBV if women and children are to be protected.
Chief Singani attributed the rampant increase in GBV in his chiefdom to lack of traditional schools for youths commonly known as gobelo.
The chief said traditional learning centres known as gobelo helped to build people’s positive mental attitudes towards life, unlike the modern schools which dwell much on theory.
Chief Singani said modern schools have not targeted the character aspect of an individual, hence the rampant increase in GBV as well as HIV and AIDS cases.
“People of olden days never used to put on clothes, and most of their parts were exposed but there wasn’t this kind of behaviour by men of nowadays because of lack of strong teaching from gobelo,” he said.
He called on all Tongas to support the reintroduction of traditional schools in order to fight GBV and AIDS.
Chief Singani said the embracing of Western culture has hampered efforts to promote traditional schools as they are shunned.
And speaking at the same function Mukanzubo Women’s Association director Yvonne Ndaba said her group is determined to take up the challenge in Southern Province.
Ms Ndaba revealed that her organisation is also targeting teachers training colleges in the province for students to pass the information on to the children they will be teaching after graduating.
“We believe respect and discipline hold everything. That is the reason we have embarked on this programme so that we restore the rich Tonga culture,” he said.
Meanwhile, Choma Children Development Project co-ordinator Conwell Haademu assured Chief Singani of his organisation’s support in the fight against HIV and AIDS in his chiefdom.
Mr Haademu said his organisation has embarked on the fight against HIV and AIDS in Singani chiefdom through the support of Brethren in Christ Church.
ZANIS.
