STATEMENT OF ZIMBABWE ACTIVISTS ON HIV & AIDS ON PRESIDENT
BUSH'S VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA

9 July 2003

Zimbabwe Activists on HIV & AIDS is an activist
organisation formed in January 2003, and its vision is the
attainment of universal HIV/AIDS treatment in Zimbabwe. The
formation of ZAHA was in response to the grim realities of
the dire situation in Zimbabwe where the pandemic has now
reached disaster proportions, and is now the leading cause
of death in the country.

Whilst we applaud President Bush's visit to this part of
the world, his stance and commitment to HIV/AIDS treatment,
as well as his US$15 billion financial package to help with
treatment in Africa and the Caribbean, we are also
painfully aware that Zimbabwe is not listed as a recipient
of the President's philanthropy. We are in no doubt of the
fact that the exclusion of this country is linked to the
relentless and persistent human rights abuses in this
country, and the explicit demands by Washington that
democracy and good governance be restored.

It is apparent that the President's mission to South Africa
has a heavy bias on engaging President Thabo Mbeki to
commit himself to Washington's agenda vis-à­¶is Zimbabwe's
political situation, but apparently nothing on helping
Zimbabwe combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

We want President Bush to know that, as much as we have a
political problem, we have a bigger HIV/AIDS problem in
Zimbabwe. We have an infection rate of 34% of the adult
population; we have a death rate of at least 500 deaths per
day from AIDS-related illnesses, and our life expectancy is
now perilously low at less than 40 years. An estimated 2,3
million people are infected, including about 240 000
orphans, and about 600 000 of these are in need of
antiretroviral therapy. Only 1% of these are on the
therapy. For the rest, the cost of the therapy is simply
beyond their reach and is therefore not an option.

We also want President Bush to know that, as much as
Zimbabweans have had to endure the current economic and
political challenges, people infected and affected by
HIV/AIDS have borne the brunt of this terrible situation.
The current drought has worsened their plight and robbed
them of the nutrition that they desperately need to boost
their immune systems. The political situation, which the
President is most concerned about, has severely affected
them as they are in no way to defend them in this violent
atmosphere. The Zimbabwean Government, currently facing
severe economic challenges, has not taken concrete steps to
enable PWA's to access treatment, and this situation is
likely to persist for as long as the necessary resources
are outside of its reach. If no immediate intervention
programs are launched to target the 99% who are not on
antiretroviral therapy, the death rate will certainly reach
genocide proportions.

Finally, we want President Bush to know that the people
infected by HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe are not the authors of the
status quo, and ought not to be excluded from any treatment
initiatives meant to alleviate the plight of other PWA's in
Africa and the Caribbean merely because of
Government-to-Government hostilities. Whilst he has made
his position on our President clear, he certainly has no
beef with the hundreds of thousands who are suffering and
who urgently need help. There is no reason why they should
not be included in the US$15 billion facility, which will
enable them to access treatment and restore their lives,
their dignity and their hopes.

It must be noted that other non-governmental organisations
have taken steps to introduce HIV/AIDS treatment, including
antiretroviral therapy, in Zimbabwe, despite the adverse
conditions. SAfAIDS has launched a crusade aimed at ARV
awareness in Zimbabwe, and several mission hospitals like
Luisa Guidotti in Mutoko have started dispensing the
therapy. Private companies like De Beers and Delta
Corporation are giving the drugs to their employees. Family
Aids Caring Trust, the largest Aids Service Organisation in
Zimbabwe, has launched an access to treatment project
called LIFE Project, which will also be dispensing ARV
drugs in and around Mutare. However, given the absence of
substantial funding and long-term sustainability, these
projects are likely to benefit a few out of the hundreds of
thousands in need.

We trust that the President will put Zimbabwe on his map on
HIV/AIDS intervention, and make a difference in the lives
of countless infected and affected Zimbabweans.

Tapiwanashe Kujinga (Spokesperson)
Zimbabwe Activists on HIV & AIDS
Phone: 263 20 67874
Cell: 263 11 413 487
Email: [email protected]