Harare — THE term "small house" is quite a recent edition to the local vocabulary but, do not be fooled, the practice has been in existence for a long time.

The term actually refers to extra-marital affairs, which are going on at an astonishing rate and are viewed by some as fashionable.

Now, a local organisation has mobilised itself to fight the scourge of small houses.

This was after realising that the behaviour contributed to the spread of HIV, especially when those involved practise unprotected sex.

It is feared that those who engage in extra-marital affairs end up discarding condoms because they "trust" the other partner.

Actually, the term small house suggests that there should be a "big house" somewhere else.

Analysts believe that fighting the small houses scourge is a mammoth task as the practice is usually done in private.

But the Action Institute for Environment, Health and Development Communication (IEHDC), thinks it has all it takes to stop extramarital affairs.

It recently launched its campaign under the theme "One Love" and it intends to take the fight against the scourge beyond Zimbabwe's borders.

In fact, at least 10 countries in Southern Africa will be touched by the campaign.

"The campaign promotes positive behaviour without blaming people for engaging in risky sexual behaviours, challenges existing gender stereotypes and promotes happy, fulfilling relationships with one partner," said IEHDC marketing and advocacy officer Ms Takaitei Bote in a statement.

"One Love's message is that it is possible to have one loving, happy relationship that is fulfilling and satisfying both emotionally and sexually, regardless of previous societal attitudes to the contrary."

Ms Bote said once an individual engages in sexual relationships with multiple partners, they become part of a sexual network.

But if someone within this network is infected with HIV, the likelihood of it spreading to everyone else involved is very high.

Probably what prompted the campaign is the realisation that behavioural change remained a huge challenge, as observed in the continuing high levels of new infections.

To demonstrate their seriousness, the IEHDC will soon screen a television drama on ZBC-TV exposing the intricacies surrounding the issue of small houses.

The organisation launched the television drama entitled "Big House Small House" last month.

It will be screened in Shona with English subtitles and will run for 24 minutes.

At least 10 countries, including Zimbabwe, would provide themes to the drama.

Recent research showed that some of the factors contributing to the practice of multiple and concurrent partners include cultural and gender imbalances and the lack of effective communication among partners which leads to sexual dissatisfaction.

There are people who actually say there is nothing wrong with small houses and this makes the fight against such practices a tough one.

consider this example. Anita Sanjala, a 28-year-old former housemaid from Gweru, says she is enjoying life as a "small house".

She was impregnated by her employer when she was 21 and still acts as his concubine.

"He comes over now and then to see how we are faring," said Anita, with pride.

Anita lives in a two-roomed cottage in the upmarket Windsor Park suburb of Gweru, with rent paid for by her lover.

Although she does not deny he may well be seeing other women, Anita seems unfazed by that.

"So long as he provides support for me and his son, while I enjoy the freedom of living apart from him and his wife, I am not bothered much," she said.

Zimbabwe has managed to reduce the HIV infection rate over the last few years to 18 percent.

But small houses and more particularly the discarding of the condom as well as gender inequality threaten these gains, with married women particularly at risk.

Caroline Nyamayemombe of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said married women faced difficulties in marital affairs.

"Married women continue to face the high risk of HIV and Aids infection, because it is difficult for them to persuade their partners to use condoms when they suspect them of having extra-marital affairs or relationships," she said.

The launch of the drama was characterised by an awareness march that saw stakeholders in the HIV prevention sector walk from Fourth Street to a local hotel.

The producers of the drama hope that it will help reduce the spread of HIV infections through a reduction in multiple and concurrent relationships.

The One Love campaign is running across Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Despite intensive efforts to address the pandemic, Southern Africa has seen a collectively steady increase in HIV prevalence over the past 20 years.

In May 2006, a Sadc think-tank meeting in Lesotho identified multiple and concurrent relationships as one of the main drivers in the spread of HIV.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Dr Gerald Gwinji said that the Government was spearheading an all-out war to win the fight against the HIV and Aids challenge.

He said that the part played by individuals and other partners in the fight against the pandemic must be highly commended.

"The Government recognises the impressive work that has been done and continues to be done by individuals and organisations in the fight against HIV and Aids," he said.

"With this kind of support and teamwork, we shall stand tall, feel proud and share the glory as our success story makes the headline news.

"One Love needs to be taken more seriously across the board. We all need to be responsible for the decisions we take regarding our health."

But it still remains to be seen if the campaign to stop extra-marital affairs will succeed, considering that some people consider the practice a "necessary evil".

Recent reports indicate that the practice of small houses has been fatal in many cases, as some partners commit suicide or murder after unearthing the extra-marital affairs.