July 1 – 7, 2001

Print Media
There was little to no coverage of HIV/AIDS related issues in the Zimbabwe mainstream print media in the week under review.

Media coverage was dominated by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions national stay-away, and other political and economic developments.

A total of 14 HIV/AIDS-related articles were monitored. Of the articles, half were either open editorials or ‘letters to the editor’ and 5 were foreign news items.

Perhaps the most significant report appeared in The Chronicle (6/7) in which journalists were urged to report HIV/AIDS in a compassionate manner. However, this was just another workshop and/or event report. The article quoted a research and communication expert who noted that journalists tend to dwell on stories highlighting shocking death and infection statistics devoid of a human and social face.

MMPZ AIDS Project notes that AIDS stigma remains pervasive in the Zimbabwean print media through war-like terminology and images of hopelessness and helplessness used to describe the disease. This is despite that people infected or affected are rarely quoted. In fact, a pilot study (April-June 2001) established that PLWH/As consistently made news only when they were accused of criminal activity, mostly raping of minors (e.g. Teacher allegedly infects girl (10) with HIV (The Herald 7/4).

Some of the terms noted in the various newspapers include:

1. AIDS sufferer
2. Deadly Pandemic, Disease, Virus etc.
3. Suffering from HIV/AIDS
4. Battle Against HIV/AIDS
5. AIDS Plague
6. Enduring AIDS scourge
7. People afflicted by HIV/AIDS

There is clearly a need to put workshop rhetoric into practice in the newsrooms.

It is important to note that, “… communication can be used as a platform to unintentionally promote stigma and, through the use of various media, can serve as tools to assist in reducing it. The media have a responsibility to report accurately, in a sensitive manner and to give clear messages when reporting on AIDS. All forms of communication, including radio, TV, print, the internet and other traditional forms have the potential to reach a large number of people and should employ their capacity to shape public attitudes, values and perceptions in a non-stigmatising manner”. (Advocacy for Action on Stigma and HIV/AIDS, Dar-es-Salaam)

Notwithstanding, both The Herald and The Chronicle (3/7) reported Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi’s rather alarmist and sensational call for deliberate spreaders of HIV to be hanged. No qualification of the statement was given.

The Herald (4/7) reported that Zambian businesses had urged the Zambian government to enact laws for better access to cheaper drugs. The article noted that most Zambians did not have the means to afford drugs. No local dimension was given in spite of the similarities between the Zambian and the Zimbabwean situation.

Of note, three letters to the editor questioned the efficacy of the AIDS funds in the absence of transparency, openness and accountability. The Chronicle (6/7) carried two letters to the editor titled Introduce AIDS as a subject and Spend AIDS levy wisely which urged the introduction of AIDS education in schools and the need to use the AIDS levy more effectively, respectively. The Zimbabwe Independent (6/7) carried a letter to the editor emphasizing the need of transparency in the disbursement of AIDS funds.

In the same vein, The Daily News (3/7) carried an open editorial on the need for the Global AIDS Fund to make an impact on the ground, particularly at household level in developing countries. Part of the article read:

Those who pay the price of weak leadership, of services not delivered and of knowledge not implemented are households especially the poorest, and particularly women and children.

Another opinion piece editorial in The Daily News (5/7) queried the effectiveness of the current efforts to confront HIV/AIDS which stress education, information and condom usage while ignoring gender disparities existent in Zimbabwe. The article argued for the empowerment of women.

The issue of the Global AIDS Fund also featured in the only editorial comment of the week (The Daily News 5/7), which urged UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to ensure victory over HIV/AIDS. The comment was heavily critical of African leaders’ attitude toward HIV/AIDS, noting that:

African leaders seem reluctant to devote much attention to any programmes that do not decisively boost their popularity with the people, or that do not ensure that they remain in power, in spite of their lack of popularity, well beyond their usefulness to their people and the world at large.

The Manica Post (6/7) reported the launch of a Ministry of Health and Child Welfare pilot programme on the prevention of mother to child HIV infection in Manicaland.

Of note, The Financial Gazette (5/7), The Sunday Mail (1/7) and The Standard (1/7) and the only vernacular newspaper Kwayedza (6/7) ignored the issue of HIV/AIDS. while The Zimbabwe Independent, and The Financial Gazette made side reference in articles addressing other issues.

In conclusion, the politically volatile atmosphere in Zimbabwe may be partly responsible for the little attention that the media accords to public health issues such as HIV/AIDS.

Although the public health problem of HIV/AIDS has political and economic ramifications, it is still regarded very much as a social issue in the print media reported outside the context of the politico-economic crises of the day.

Politically volatile situations in themselves present considerable problems and challenges to effective public health communication – a factor that those involved in HIV/AIDS work need to take into account when targeting the media.

ENDS

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