BUSE Student Launches ‘Anti-Blesser’ Campaign

By Denzel Nemhara
A female student from the Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) has embarked on a campaign against sugar daddies often referred to as ‘blessers’ who are allegedly going after girls at secondary and tertiary institutions in the town taking advantage of their vulnerability.

Charlotte Chigwedere (21) a level 2.1 Peace and Governance student at the institution is going around schools and universities in and around Bindura with the campaign persuading learners and students from resisting their moves.

Through her organisation, Active Mindsets, she is also preaching the gospel of decency and encouraging girls to be content with support they get from their guardians or parents.

In an interview with Nhau/Indaba, Chigwedere said, “Our main goal is to fight the social scourge that is H.I.V and AIDs as well as to encourage young girls to get off the yoke of the retrogressive dependency syndrome so that they don’t get abused by males who are older than them.”

“The problem we have as young girls is that we fall victim to peer pressure easily. A young girl can come from her homestead with her parents’ support but as soon as she gets at school or college, she seeks extra support for things as simple as clothes and fast foods,” she said.

Buoyed by the reported increase in girls dating older and married men while at tertiary institutions, Chigwedere is confident her campaign will bear fruit and save the students from exploitation and the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

This follows reports that Zimbabwe’s tertiary institutions are recording a high prevalence of STDs and HIV incidence.

Some of the female students at Bindura University who requested anonymity said they had no choice but to have ‘blessers’ who come in handy at times of financial crisis.

“Having a sugar daddy is no longer taboo as it used to be. They are our boyfriends, they rescue us in times of financial turmoil,” said one.

Chigwedere is self-funding her private voluntary organisation but is appealing to the corporate world and well-wishers for support to see her project raising awareness for changes in the behaviour of female students at these institutions.

She also aspires these men to respect the girl child and not take advantage of their financial vulnerability triggered by the current economic crisis while undergoing their studies. Nhau/Indaba