This article was authored by Beatrice Tonhodzayi of Zimpapers (The Herald)

Today, I just want to share what different groups of people think about the small house issue; which (like it or not) has emerged one of the top igniters of HIV infection in this country.

Despite this, research shows that it is very difficult to kill the culture. People continue to do it.

However, we will not give up but keep intensifying our efforts for I believe someone somewhere might see the light.

A lot of situations might also turn out different if one group knows what the other group thinks, for instance if married women really knew what some of these men say is the reason they sleep around and therefore risk themselves and their families to HIV infection - they might do something differently.

And if married men knew just how sick and irresponsible the majority of women believe them to be; some of them might change.

Here goes: "My Sister, small houses do not have a conscience or any self-worth. To accept to be a "trash can" or "the moment's thrill" and not get any commitment shows that.

The body is a temple and only the high priest is to enter it. But no, for the sake of money and good living these women will sacrifice their self worth. What they forget is that if you cheat with these men, they surely will cheat on you too.

The small house in my life even wants to control what my husband does at home. She complains when my husband does things for me. She has been a small house for 16 years now; has mothered a child for him, and still thinks he will marry her one-day.

But do you think she wakes up, No! Something interesting is that she says "she does not want to share, and he needs to decide whom he wants". What in the world did she think she was doing when she started sleeping with him? She chose to share and yet she claims to not want to share? What kind of a person is this? Are there any brains upstairs, or did they take leave and never return."

"What goes through the child's mind, whose father shows up every so often to get a thrill from his mum? What will become of this child? What values are they instilling in the child, except to confirm that even though the bible says, "thou shalt not commit adultery", it is okay for us to ignore the commandments? Do they ever stop to think about these innocent products of momentary passion?

We talk about teaching our children about HIV and Aids and yet right in the home the child is being exposed to the very sin that is destroying our nation. We cast a blind eye and continue to create monsters that do not know the difference between right from wrong. The child grows up with no conscience. How cruel can a mother be?

Tendai (married woman).

Another reader married man this time writes: "I do not support men having small houses but I don't know what men who are in the same situation as me would do. I have been married for nine years and we have 2 children.

The problem is most of the times I want to have sex with my wife she will not be interested, she always finds a reason not to have sex. This has been going on for about more than fours years. I have even approached one of her aunts about this but it seems there is no solution coming. I didn't want to have a small house because of all the problems associated with them including the risk of contracting HIV but to be honest with you I am seriously thinking of having one. My point is not that all men have small houses for selfish reasons but because their wives do not look after them."

And now to a small house, Angeline: "Just what should the single woman have a conscience about, who is she cheating on?"

It is the married man who should shoulder ALL the blame; he is the married one cheating on his partner.

Life is too short to pass up an opportunity for any little happiness. So if I get it a married man so be it. After all why should married women want to hoard all the happiness for themselves just because they are married?

I think the ANIMAL KINGDOM got it right - no partner for life but share and share alike and I suspect that it is what God intended and we mortals are actually trying to work against nature!"

Another small house: "You asked if young girls who date married men have a conscience as well but the question should also go to the married men.

When a man approaches you, you don't know anything about them and you can actually fall in love without knowing much.

Men and the truth have never been known to get along and us girls young and in love as we are - we believe everything they tell us. I once dated a man who was married and he told me that his wife was dead and yes the house had no traces of the wife at all, unknown to me the wife was away for about two weeks.

It was only after he started being shady not keeping appointments and promises that I found out the truth. I was hurt and felt used so now I date married men to get back for the hurt I went through then.

Married men come to us because of some problems with the wives. If the wives would change then maybe the men would change." (I wonder about that one.)

Another "small house" actually blamed some mothers for encouraging their daughters to date rich older and married men for the benefits that would come along.

They would even encourage their daughters to fall pregnant saying "nhamo yedu inobva yapera" she said, only to start quacking in fear when the married man suddenly dies as they begin to think of Aids.

The next letter from a married woman: "I think the main reason why single women date married men is desperation.

Single men don't approach them for they can tell a desperate and used up girl so they latch onto married men hoping they will divorce their wives and they can take over.

Small houses where were you when those men decided to marry their wives, why didn't they pick you?

Here is the answer for you since you obviously can't get it right yourselves: "It's because you are not marriage material, that is why you are strung around for years by a man who never destroys what he has built with his wife? MAIN HOUSE"

Unfortunately I cannot use all the letters but the subject got an overwhelming response.

I believe sharing their sentiments these readers will help even those working on HIV prevention to know the mindsets of the people in the societies they are operating in.

Funny thing is we as sex workers also dispise small houses. We see them as bona fide sex workers who offer a fair range of products for free. We know that they offoer to more than one man and we know that they are paid per week or per months but never per session. We do not think this fair to our trade.

As for speading HIV. I really could not blame the women in this. The first point of blame is the men, then the wives. We are in the periphery of homes. We wait till the men come to us looking for sex then we charge them just to make sure they really want it. The wife must go crazy in providing sex once she marries a man. That man should never want for sex. He married you for sex and that is the one thing he should have in abundance.

If he comes to us fro extras it means the wife is not doing her job. She must not complain.