By McGeorge Mbare
THE National AIDS Council (NAC) has urged community leaders and their people to use protection to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
Speaking at the International Condom Day celebrations in Beitbridge on February 13, 2026, the Beitbridge District AIDS Coordinator, Edward Mulaudzi, said people need to prioritize using protection whenever they engage in sexual activities to stay safe from HIV and other STIs.
“We are here at Lutumba in Beitbridge, celebrating International Condom Day, encouraging our community and leaders to use protection in every sexual activity. We are running under the theme ‘Just Use It’,” said Mulaudzi who is the District NAC Coordinator, Mulaudzi said.
Chief Tshitaudze, born David Mbedzi, boldly stated that headmen and village heads need to prioritize using sexual protection to stay healthy and influence their communities to do the same.
“I encourage you, my community leaders, to condomise because I know we have cultural aspects that say we can’t use condoms, but we need to use them to stay healthy and safe. I can’t stand to lose my people because of this. Some of our elders have polygamous relationships, so it’s wise for them to use protection,” Chief Tshitaudze said.
He said his concern for his community’s health stems from Beitbridge being one of the top places with the highest recorded HIV infections in the country.
Community leader Sarudzani Moyo emphasized that women need to prioritize using female condoms for their safety and health.
“As women, we need to prioritize using female condoms as much as we can. Most of our women don’t even know how to use female protection because they always rely on men to use protection, which isn’t safe for women. We appeal to health officials to provide sexual health education for local leaders, even in churches and elsewhere,” Moyo said.
The International Condom Day is celebrated worldwide as a reminder that protection is power and using condoms is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent HIV and other STIs.
Villagers from around Lutumba, 20 kilometres north of Beitbridge, gathered to mark the celebration where different medical services were offered by NAC and its parent Ministry Of Health and Child Care.
He celebrations included quiz and question time where several residents won different prizes with different HIV and Aids education messages.