Minister expresses concern over HIV

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo has called for Zimbabwe to urgently recognise HIV infections, early and unintended pregnancies, gender-based violence, and rising substance abuse among learners as a national crisis, warning that the future of children is at risk if immediate action is not taken.

Speaking through a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account following his participation in a UNESCO Ministerial Dialogue in Livingstone, Zambia, Minister Moyo said the country must move beyond discussions and declarations to decisive intervention.

"I want to speak directly to Zimbabweans, parents, teachers, school heads, traditional leaders, faith communities and most importantly, our young people themselves, about what was discussed, what was agreed and what Zimbabwe intends to do about it," he said.

"Because this is not a diplomatic exercise. This is a crisis and Zimbabwe does not attend international dialogues to collect certificates. We attend to learn, to commit and to act."

The minister's remarks come amid growing regional concern over adolescent HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence, and substance abuse, all of which continue to affect school attendance and learner performance across Southern Africa.

He noted that Eastern and Southern Africa remains the global epicentre of HIV infections, with adolescent girls and young women disproportionately affected by new cases.

Minister Moyo also highlighted early and unintended pregnancies as a leading cause of school dropouts, often exposing affected learners to child marriage and long-term cycles of poverty.

He further raised concern over increasing cases of gender-based violence in and around schools, including online abuse, which he said continues to undermine learners' safety, dignity and access to education.

On substance abuse, he warned that the scale of the problem is alarming, citing data presented at the dialogue indicating that approximately 42 percent of young people aged between 10 and 19 years in Sub-Saharan Africa engage in psychoactive substance use.

"These are not statistics from another planet. These are our children. Some of them are sitting in our classrooms right now," he said.

Minister Moyo said Zimbabwe, alongside other countries in the region, has signed the Livingstone Ministerial Communiqué, committing to a coordinated response aimed at improving the wellbeing and educational outcomes of young people.

Key commitments include strengthening education systems through improved policies, enhanced teacher training, and the rollout of scientifically accurate, culturally appropriate life skills and health education.

Government also pledged to intensify efforts to keep girls in school by addressing barriers such as teenage pregnancy, child marriage, stigma, discrimination and violence, while expanding opportunities for adolescent mothers to return to education.

"Adolescent mothers deserve the right to complete their education without shame or penalty," he said.

Implementation details of the new measures are expected to be rolled out in the coming months, building on existing cooperation between Government and UNESCO through the O3 Programme, which focuses on improving health, education and life outcomes for young people.