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YOUTH WANT SEX AT 12 YEARS

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image Mangisi Maphanga (L) makes her remarks while Zwelihle Hadzebe listens during the conference. (Pics Nosipho Shongwe)

MANZINI – In what will come as a shock to parents in Swaziland; young people want the age of consenting to sexual intercourse lowered from 16 to 12 years old.


This, in essence, means the youth want the Constitution and other supporting legislation to make it lawful for 12-year-old girls to consent to sexual intercourse. Currently, the Child Welfare Protection Act of 2012 stipulates that the consent age is 16.


The youth voiced this during a conference themed the ‘Youth Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Beyond 2015’ hosted by the Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS) at The George Hotel, in Manzini.


While making his submissions, Vuyo Fakudze of Luvatsi, who presented a piece on Adolescents and HIV, said parents must accept the fact that young children engage in sexual intercourse from as young as 12 years.


“Young girls, some aged 12, are sleeping with their age mates in schools all over the country. Whether we like it or not, 12-year-olds are sexually active and legislators should look into lowering the age of consenting to sexual intercourse from 16 to 12,” Fakudze submitted.
He said it was high time facts were accepted that behavioural change among young people was at an all-time peak and the legislation should take this into consideration.


His submissions were met with a thunderous applause from his peers, most of whom were nodding in agreement as he made his presentation.
Young people from the country’s tertiary institutions took part in the conference and they shared their thoughts on what they felt needed to be reviewed on issues of sexual reproductive health and made recommendations on the priority areas, post 2015.


The event was attended by young people who are students in tertiary institutions such as the University of Swaziland UNISWA), Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT), Southern Africa Nazarene University (SANU), SOS Children’s Villages, members of AMICAAL, Rock of Hope and Luvatsi youth wing.


The overall objective of the conference was to allow young people in Swaziland to reflect on issues of sexual reproductive health as they affect them and make recommendations, post 2015.  It was noted that most global instruments would come to an end in 2015, as well as the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action of 1994, and as such it was important that all stakeholders, especially the youth, reflected on the gains made since its establishment in 1994 and make recommendations on a way forward.


Other young people, interviewed on this matter after the conference, concurred with Fakudze, stating that the nation should not turn a blind eye to this issue. “It is a reality that young people are having sex and they mature too quickly and look like grown ups at the age of 12,” said another participant.


The issue of young girls engaging too early in sexual activities was also highlighted by Zelda Nhlabatsi, Executive Director of FLAS. In her address, she mentioned that a study had revealed that one in four pregnant women was a teenager under the age of 16 years.


“Young people in Swaziland start having sex as young as 16 years old and this is a grave concern,” she noted. She also learnt that the youth were unhappy with the fees that the organisation charged for its services.


This, after Nhlabatsi asked the youth if they were happy with services offered by FLAS and what they wanted the organisation to do to ensure that they lived a healthy lifestyle.
“We want the association to charge cheaper fees for their services as they know that a lot of teenagers do not have money and are still in school,” Fakudze said.

Comments (13 posted):

Sithembiso Gama on 24/11/2014 11:19:58
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Extending the analogy I would say stealing should be legalized since it's been going on all the while!

Jokes aside;
1) what GOOD do you hope to achieve in 'pushing' such a petition?

2) I quote, "It is a reality that young people are having sex and they mature too quickly and look like grown ups at the age of 12”. This is not true! Rather their bodies develop quicker compared to the olden days, maturity has to do with growth mentally.
3) As the bible says, "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a CHILD left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."(proverbs 29:15).

Ayingasiphunyukeli maSwati lamahle, sive sakusasa lekumele sitichenye ngaso lesi lesidukiswako. Asakheni ngebucotfo bantfwabaketfu.
Israel on 24/11/2014 11:25:01
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This is crazy, infact the age should be increased to 18, as this would lead to rape, how can you tell me a child can consent to sex??? as a 25 year old man for example, (not that I am a pedophile, since I wouldn't have intercourse with someone younger than 18) I can rape that 12 year old, then tell the judge we both agreed to do the act, would I be believed?
sex was meant for married couples not children.
yoliswa on 24/11/2014 12:19:33
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I personally do not agree with such.. I think if the age restriction is reduced to 12 , It will cause teenagers to willingly and openly have sexual intercourse just because they will be under the impression that they are allowed to and if the constitution agrees they will not even listen to their parents... hence increasing teenage pregnancy and more infections as these kids will not even have sufficient information on reproduction. plus it will give old perverted man chance to molest young teenagers... I feel like Swaziland is an okay respectful country. . let us not lose that..
nkosingiphile maziya on 24/11/2014 12:25:56
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yes it is true .time has changed ,Goverment must take into consideration that now children matures very quickly.
dj bigguy on 24/11/2014 14:21:48
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I dont understand why this is a bid deal coz vele now these youngsters start having sex earlier, its either ubanjiwe noma u didnt, the best way parents shuld do is to teach them abt it very early. ok lets say ke she starts at 12, do we see the danger of him /her contacting STI? Swazis lets not look on d topic but check the facts these guys labazama kuwaveta.
sweetlittleinyoni on 24/11/2014 14:24:20
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Just because the little kids are having sex does not mean it is right, or that they are ready physically n emotionally, or if they r ready for the consequences.
mandla on 24/11/2014 17:32:27
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Sex is now taught at schools. If it is taught then they should have the liberty to taste it.
William Langwenya on 24/11/2014 18:14:07
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This is a crazy idea Swazis must not mislead children we need them for the future and who so ever say the time for the young sex practice is retarded and must tell his/her girl to do that not the our children and if there law based on that it means the country is going to having no one for Umhlanga and that is strange to all swazis
Goodman Simelane on 24/11/2014 19:40:39
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This is unbelievable and coming from young people which we consider as tomorrow's future beats me.These children want to die young.Why don't they abstain and concentrate on their education.
Linda Helicopter on 24/11/2014 22:52:20
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Emadlwane bekavele akhona kusukela kusenabo khokho kepha loko bekungasho kutsi umntfwana uvumelekile kulala sinoma.Mentally a girl of 12 years is not matured.Kahleni kusiholela eweni.

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