MBABANE – A shocking youth crisis.
Each year, at least 4 000 pupils fall pregnant and a considerable number of these are in rural areas like Lundzi. Yesterday, a gathering known as Eswatini Anti-teen Pregnancy Campaign took place at Lundzi, a town within Mhlambanyatsi Inkhundla, situated near the South African border .
The Anti-Teenage Pregnancy Campaign aims to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies in Eswatini, that are invariably imposing damage to, or even cause the stop of a female teenager’s education. It seeks to take the important messages out to the young residents of the 59 tinkhundla (constituencies) of the country, as well as assisting in reducing, even eliminating, the underlying causes that give rise to female vulnerability to careless sex.
Yesterday, the campaign, which was held at Mbuluzi High School exposed the alarming depth of challenges facing Eswatini’s young people, as community leaders, teachers, police officers and politicians called for urgent, coordinated action to confront the rising number of school-going girls who fall pregnant each year.
The gathering brought together hundreds of pupils, many of whom listened in silence as adults from different sectors painted a picture of the social pressures pushing children into early sexual activity.
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… boredom, one of the major causes of teenage pregnancy
LUNDZI – Other than sports grounds for boys to play soccer, there is little things girls can do, if they are not fetching firewood in rural communities.
This has been an observation by some of the residents who admitted that there are not enough activities for girls.
According to Chris Morgan, who is coordinating the Eswatini Anti-teen Pregnancy Campaign, boredom and poverty do contribute to teenage pregnancy. He said teenage pregnancy has the potential to ruin the teenagers’ lives because taking care of a child is expensive.
Morgan said the unfortunate part is that when children are bored, some end up engaging in sexual activities that eventually result in pregnancy.
Morgan added that poverty further amplifies the risk.
Police officer, Sergeant Christopher Magagula, was also among the speakers. He is a crime prevention officer at the Bhunya Police Station. He warned pupils that sexual relationships are not allowed for children as well as kujuma, which means to have a female sleepover.
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… sex, traditionally only for husband, wife – Khulisa Umntfwana
LUNDZI – Throughout the event, speakers brought forward a mix of moral guidance, practical advice and social commentary.
Representatives from Khulisa Umntfwana opened the programme by emphasising abstinence and the importance of delaying sexual initiation.
Bheki Shabangu urged pupils to guard their futures fiercely, insisting that sex should remain an activity reserved for married adults. He said teenage relationships often brought emotional strain, broken trust and long-term consequences that young people were ill-prepared to face.
Shabangu stressed that falling pregnant while still in school placed an enormous burden on a teenage girl, often forcing her to sacrifice her education. The message was direct: Early pregnancy derail dreams, cuts off opportunities and lock many into lifelong struggles. Young boys were also warned that impregnating their age-mates meant derailing not only the girl’s futures but their own.
The speakers said many adolescent relationships collapse under the pressure of pregnancy, leaving both the boy and girl emotionally wounded.
*Full article available in our publication
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