By Kuda Pembere
At a time when some East and Southern African (ESA) countries are reviewing their legal frameworks on the age of consent to improve access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for adolescents and young people, Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) chief executive officer Farai Machinga has called for stronger regional collaboration to ensure collective progress.
Machinga made the call while officiating a two day Regional SRHR Meeting organized by Youth Advocates, Restless Development, and the Centre for the Study of Adolescence, with technical and financial support from the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) through the HIVOS Regional SRHR Fund.
He said countries in the East and Southern Africa region must avoid working in isolation if they are to effectively respond to the challenges of adolescent pregnancies and limited access to reproductive health services.
“To strengthen partnerships across countries ensures that progress in one nation becomes progress for the region,” said Machinga. “Coming together as representatives across East and Southern Africa demonstrates our collective commitment to regional solidarity and shared accountability. No single country can tackle these issues alone.”
Machinga said the realities facing adolescents transcend national borders, and solutions must do the same.
“The realities our adolescents face are not confined by borders, and neither should our solutions be. We need to cross-pollinate to address this elephant in the room. Our outcomes are ambitious but achievable through coordinated regional analysis, practical action plans, and renewed partnerships that turn discussions into tangible results,” he said.
He emphasized that adolescents should not only be seen as beneficiaries but as active partners in shaping SRH programs.
“As we engage over the two days, let us remain guided by the principle that adolescents are not just beneficiaries of our programs, but they are partners, innovators, and agents of transformation,” he said. “Their voices must guide our decisions and shape our strategies. When we invest in their rights and leadership, we invest in the future of Africa itself.”
Machinga also urged leaders to create safe spaces and support youth-driven programs.
“We must listen to young people when they share their challenges and act accordingly, not judge them. Together, we can build a region where every adolescent — regardless of gender, geography, or socioeconomic status, has the knowledge, support, and access to the services they need to thrive,” he said.
He noted that Zimbabwe’s teenage pregnancy rate remains high at 23 percent, despite a slight drop from 24 percent.
“Across East and Southern Africa, young people continue to face legal, cultural, and systemic barriers that deny them their right to health — from restrictive age of consent laws to persistent stigma within health facilities,” he said. “Preventable maternal deaths, unsafe abortions, and cycles of poverty continue to haunt communities. No woman should die while giving birth — it’s preventable.”
Machinga said ESA countries could learn from Malawi and South Africa, which have lowered the age of consent for HIV testing to 13 and 12 years respectively, allowing adolescents to access services without parental consent.
Youth Advisory Panel member Foster Mathiela confirmed that Malawi’s reforms have created a more youth-friendly environment.
“Anyone aged 13 and above can now access HIV testing without parental consent. This has created a very conducive environment for young people to seek services freely,” he said.
Youth Advocates Executive Director Tatenda Songore said teenage pregnancies remain high across the region, with some countries recording rates above 30 percent.
“We’ve seen pregnancies in girls as young as nine years old. This calls for urgent, harmonized SRHR policies that protect and empower adolescents,” said Songore.
Restless Development Zimbabwe Executive Director Lesley Garura said highlighted that progress has been made nin some areas.
“Over the years, we’ve seen some progress.We want to be honest. Policy is a big strength in certain countries. Teachers and service providers have been trained. Services have been made a bit more youth friendly. We have quite a number of youth organizations that are here that have ensured that young people remain at the heart of this agenda. Through their leadership and creativity, young people have brought ESSA commitments to life from classrooms to rural clinics, from community dialogues to digital campaigns,” he said.
HIVOS Regional Director Joy Mabenge said systemic barriers such as age of consent laws, parental consent requirements, and stigma continue to fuel HIV infections and teenage pregnancies across the ESA region.
“These barriers restrict access to essential services that safeguard the health, dignity, and futures of young people,” said Mabenge. “Rising HIV infections, adolescent pregnancies, and disrupted education are not just statistics — they are urgent calls to action. This meeting reflects our shared mission to build inclusive societies where all young people can access their rights and opportunities.”
