VILLAGERS in Chiredzi, Masvingo province, have called on government and its development partners to include minority languages when packaging and disseminating messages on HIV and Aids to ensure wide coverage.
by HAZVINEI MWANAKA
The district is located close to South Africa and Mozambique and is home to people who speak different languages such as Ndau, Venda, isiNdebele and Shangaani.
Chiredzi Senator Otilia Maluleke, contributing to debate in the Senate on the antiretroviral therapy (ART) rollout programme, said people in her community were being left out as most broadcast messages on HIV and Aids were not in their vernacular languages.
“Chiredzi is close to South Africa and Mozambique and most people think HIV and Aids is caused by witchcraft because they do not have information about the virus,” Maluleke said. “It is difficult to communicate because some people understand Ndebele, Ndau, Venda and Shangani. It is a mixed bag.”
She added that those in government as well as development partners in the fight against HIV and Aids could not speak local languages.
Atwell Masaga from Masuku village in Chiredzi South, dominated by Shangaani-speaking people, said most development partners addressed villagers in languages they did not understand.
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“When they come, they just address us in Shona (Karanga or Zezuru). We speak different languages here and when you do not understand Shona, you will definitely miss the message,” Masaga said.
The new Constitution recognises 16 official languages used in Zimbabwe.
Section 6 (4) of the Constitution stipulates that the State must promote the use of all languages in Zimbabwe, and create conditions for their development.
National Aids Council (NAC) provincial Aids co-ordinator for Masvingo, Evos Makoni, said most non-governmental organisations that operated in the province had employers that speak local languages.
“There are certain materials we have developed in their languages which they can read and understand. If you need to communicate effectively, you should identify an interpreter,” Makoni said.
Asked whether their messages were being accepted in the Shangaani community, Makoni said: “You will find acceptance of HIV testing. Every male who goes for circumcision undergoes HIV testing. Because we communicate with them, they allow us to do circumcision, a procedure that they don’t permit outsiders to perform.”
Director of Aids and TB unit in the Health and Child Care ministry, Owen Mugurungi, said his ministry worked with trained community health workers in disseminating HIV messages.
“At community level, we work with trained health workers as behaviour change facilitators. They are recruited by the locals before undergoing training,” Mugurungi said.
“The messages are conveyed through various channels, including interpersonal communication and public gatherings. The response is positive, judging from the uptake of services. However, behaviour change takes time to determine.
“Although information, education and communication materials are always important, especially if translated into local languages and dialects, interpersonal communication is a more effective means of conveying messages in various communities.”
According to the NAC Masvingo annual report: “The year 2014 saw an increase of 127,5% in the number of people that were reached with HIV prevention programmes from 10 375 in 2013 to 23 607.
