The Zimbabwe Urban Dictionary defines a small house as the “Mistress of a married man.” Small house. That phrase raises the ire of many married women and yet it and the act it refers to has become so commonplace it’s accepted in some quarters as an inevitable part of society. A new advertising campaign on TV, radio and in the newspapers is challenging that notion.

^ Are you the only one dipping from your honey jar?

The advertising campaign, sponsored by the Ministry of Health, National AIDS Council, DFID, USAID and PSI reminds people that having a small house puts you in a sexual network which makes you very vulnerable to contracting HIV.

One ad in the campaign shows a number of men of various ages and backgrounds at the door of a woman’s home. All of them are bearing gifts, seemingly oblivious of each other’s presence.

Another ad shown on TV shows a jar of honey and different hands are dipping into it, collecting finger loads of the sweet substance. “Are you the only one dipping from your honey jar?” the advert asks. The copy in the print version of the advert reads the same and goes on to answer: “Maybe not… You see the honey. She sees your money and the other guys’ money at the same time. And when you’re not around, she’s spending your money with some other ‘fun’ guy.

“Having a small house makes you part of a sexual network. HIV is very contagious during the first few months after infection. If one person contracts HIV then everyone in this sexual network can also become infected. So think about this before you visit your ‘small house’.” The ad goes on to say.

Is has become common for some Zimbabwean men to talk openly to their friends about their small houses. The name “small house” comes from the fact that often these men rent out- or buy- flats or houses for their mistresses as part of a bigger package that may include food, clothing, spending money, a car and other goodies. The richer the man, the more well financed the small house. Some men even have two or three small houses.

Married women are sometimes known to compete with small houses for their husband’s attention by trying to maintain their looks and by working harder to please their men in bed- which then puts them at an even greater risk of contracting HIV. However, in most cases they are unaware of their husband’s infidelity and even if they suspect it, may be too afraid to broach the topic due to the patriarchal power dynamics in Zimbabwean relationships.

- Styles Kadzere

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Sugar Sugar   |2009-11-27 04:18:27 Handi kunaka kunoita uchi. Reply 0   1

Sugar Sugar   |2009-11-27 04:18:50 Kunyatso tapira chaiko... Reply 0   1

Affected Wife  - Think twice   |2009-12-01 05:04:30 Iwe musikana kana uchi bvuma kudanana ne murume vemunhu, do you think he is gonna be faithful to you? The same way he cheated on his wife is the same way he is gonna cheat on you. You know the saying 'what goes around, comes around' right? So gals the power to stop the continuous spread of this disease is to say NO!!!!! and is in our HANDS AND ATTITUDES nekuti man will always be man!!!! Reply 0   0

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