Bulawayo woman champions virginity preservation project

A Bulawayo woman has launched a culturally rooted initiative aimed at ensuring that girls under her care abstain from sexual activity before marriage.

Patricia Tshabalala, director of the Vulindlela Orphanage Care Centre in Mpopoma suburb, is behind the project, which was prominently showcased during the recent King Mzilikazi Day commemorations.

The centre currently houses 37 young women, referred to as amatshitshi, who are committed to maintaining their virginity. During the festivities, the girls, dressed in traditional attire, chanted "Suka mfana" (get away, you boys) to demonstrate their pledge, earning standing ovations from the audience.

Tshabalala told Southern Eye that the initiative, which began in 2019 with 15 girls, has seen graduates leave the centre to marry with confidence in their health and marriages. "Some have grown up and left the orphanage centre; some are married and have no problems in their marriages in terms of diseases or how to run their marriages," she said.

The programme, open to girls as young as five, combines cultural education with health awareness. Participants undergo rigorous testing to qualify for the initiative. Tshabalala linked her work to cultural preservation and health benefits, cautioning against the long-term use of family planning pills at a young age, which she believes can impact fertility.

The centre also accommodates seven boys, known as amaguqa, who undergo similar evaluations by male elders. Tshabalala hopes the children will eventually marry partners who have followed similar cultural and moral guidance.

Her initiative was part of the two-day King Mzilikazi commemorations, organized by the Mthwakazi kaMzilikazi Cultural Association under the theme: We Strengthen the Nation Through Culture. The event provided a platform for groups across Matabeleland to share lessons on culture, HIV and AIDS awareness, and the dangers of drug abuse.

Tshabalala's programme responds to growing concerns over adolescent exposure to risky behaviours, particularly at wild indoor gatherings known as Vuzu parties, where young people are introduced to sex, drugs, and binge drinking.

"We want to set an example in Bulawayo, the capital of the Ndebele king," Tshabalala said. "Our goal is to raise healthy, culturally aware young men and women who will live disciplined lives and honour our traditions."

The initiative is supported entirely through donations from well-wishers and remains a cornerstone of Tshabalala's dedication to youth development and cultural preservation.