Thursday, July 12, 2012

Male circumcision: which way forward?

By Meluse Kapatamoyo

Male medical circumcision: should it be a prerequisite to civic center, church or any other lawfully sanctioned marriage?

18 comments:

stevenzam said...

For me personally i believe every human being is born sovereign and any altercation to the physical body may only be done by the consent of the individual when at a age where he/she can decide for themselves.
The other question to ask is how does the resistance by religious groups for contraception is adding to the AIDS epidemic.

Unknown said...

Male circumcision is definitely a good thing to do. But requiring it before marriage would be too much. I know you have specifically mentioned "medical male circumcision", but I know most circumcisions in Zambia are done as a cultural expectation. For example much of the Northwestern cultural expectation is that a male should undergo "Mukanda." This Mukanda can be easily enforced than can "medical" circumcision.

Adam Muftawu said...

Male medical circumcision has been around for some time now.It will be basically criminal to make it a condition to civic centre or any other place of importance.
What then becomes of others who have not gone through that exercise?Does it go to say they will be left out of societal benefits? Absolutely not.

Unknown said...

Male circumcision is a must for every man. weather married or not.it shouldnt be done only when one wants to marry it should be a must.in our culture you are called a man not because you are putting on a trouser no'until you get circumcised then you are a man.it started in the bible where every male child at the age of eight month must go through the knife.so why should it be a civil matter.i think it should be a societal benefit to be done by all men before marriage

Anonymous said...

Rubbish! It should be a matter of individual choice with no restrictions on marriage, church, civil unions, etc.

Unknown said...

There are as many cultures that circumcize as there are that do not. I will disagree with Mr Shachizanda about being called a man only if you are circumcized. In cultures in which males are expected to be circumcized it could be the case, in cultures where circumcision is not a pre-requisite to manhood, other criteria are used to determine "manhood". The author is in a way right to emphasize "medical" in her presentation. Some people might need the "medicine" while others may not need it, kwapwa!

Unknown said...

The origin of man is from God, and we are told to follow christ,so if christ is the way,then circumcsion is a must for all men,Thats point number 1.Point number 2 is that circumcision prevents a lot of sexual tramitted diseases.The foreskin and its warmth is a breeding place for germs and virus and when it is removed you are safe.
Whose culture was jesus following?and who do we say we follow?Jesus christ,so weather medical or not Man is safe when circumcised.Some men with hygiene ni problem so when you went through the knife you are safe,hygienically.
i work for the hospital and i have seen those cultures who doesnt believe in circumcision bringing there own children for the knife,even married men who thought other wise do come.i think it should be mandatory for all men to be circumicisied.
It is not too late mr Njobvu for you to go it the same way

ReplyDelete

Meluse Kapatamoyo said...

Question is, should a woman demand circumcision before marriage, lets say not only for YOUR protection but HERS too?

SalesAdmin said...

The story of circumcision is old and interesting. Proponents of circumcision say in addition to protecting men from disease, it enhances the service they deliver in bed.
On the other hand, some couples (yes, I have spoken to couples as well), say a man rushing to be circumcised only confirms his infidelity.
The argument women put forward is that it is okey to keep your 'head sock' if you know you are faithful.
The satisfaction debate can only be confirmed by you ladies; let's hear from you: would you sleep with a man who is not circumcised?

Mie1 said...

As far as circumcision is concerned, I am afraid that is a decision every male has to take for himself. Obviously the younger people know more about the benefits of the 'little snip' than the older generation. To them it is often still the 'unkindest cut of all' and is considered an affront to their masculinity .... except, of course, in those cultural groups on our continent where circumcision is part and parcel of a young man's transition to adulthood.

kyapa said...

well coming from Northwestern province.....and with my little knowledge about health problems women have related to sexual intercourse awe .....i would not sleep with a man who is not circumcised .............No a big NO!! However , that doesn't mean i think of men who are not circumcised as being less of a man.....i believe the definition of a man goes beyond that

Boyd said...

Hello,

Firstly, thanks Meluse for poking our minds on this very important subject. A lot has been said about MC but still the message has not yet sunk. Personally, I subscribe to any medically proven solution to reducing chances or risks of contracting and/transmitting of infections. If MC is said to be an effective solution to reducing infections, then it must be supported. But the question as to whether it should be supported as a prerequisite to geting married is very debatable. I believe, this decision should be left to the couple. Just as going for VCT is personal or can be agreed upon by a couple, MC shuld be treated the same.

I would rather discuss with my partner before taking any action.

Matongo Maumbi said...

Kyapa, assuming you are female, I will get circumcised to increase my chances of sleeping with you. Circumcision in preventing diseases in itself is not a problem, but the way it is being propagated making people leave the important fact it is just abt 60% effective and condom use is encouraged all the time. It's a decision every man has to make with no condition attached. Lets leave the Bible aside cos there are a lot of things that we do not follow....circumcision there is a jewish culture. For medical reasons and if it warrants so, then I could get circumcised. And how about the many men who do not believe in foreplay.....mamamamamammaamma

Unknown said...

People have tastes, but love sometimes changes those tastes. It is quite a big commitment to categorically state that. Nevertheless, it should be emphasized that circumcisions are definitely more culturally tolerated in much of Northwestern province.

Douglas Hampande said...

Circumcision is practiced for cultural purposes as a rite of passage to and indication of manhood, as well as a medical procedure for hygiene purposes. Beyond that, there are 'rumoured' benefits for women. Rumoured because am a man so I can only refer to what I have heard from beneficiaries. But to make circumcision a pre-requisite for marriage is stretching the argument rather too far. If sex is the focus, then my view is that man does not circumcision in order to do the needful. Those who want to argue for circumcision should point to the benefits as a partial prevention mechanism against HIV infection, as well other benefits like hygiene, etc.

Hastings Shantanga said...

I don't think so....reason is simple that circumcision adds nothing to marriage except probably in areas of prevention to a limited degree of HIV and Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases. Making it mandatory for marriage will be a discrimination on the part of the male folk. If the all idea is connected to the proliferation of HIV/AIDS then, who says woman are not equally promiscuous? Surely, circumcision must be personal choice and not a prerequisite. For argument sake, if that were then it will just increase illegal marriages or probably takeaways for those who don't subscribe to the notion. Who will loose, i guess it will be a woman going by the gender imbalance on the Zambian setup. Hastings Shantanga

Unknown said...

This is an interesting topic and undoubtedly generates lots of debate. Circumcision, used for purpose of being clean and prevention of HIVand AIDS is ceratainly a good thing. I totally agree that that those who feel like being circumcised they should do so freely. Making it mandatory for those who marry lawfully is asking for too much.The bottom line for married people is to be responsible and knowing why they have married.

Unknown said...

I think yes, it should be a prerequisite.