John Kabamba has to walk 20 kilometres to a clinic for AIDS therapy and he has no idea how candidates in Zambia’s presidential election would ease the suffering of about one million ravaged by HIV/AIDS.
Zambians complain that the two main contenders in the October 30 poll — acting President Rupiah Banda and opposition leader Michael Sata — have been largely silent on the issue during their campaigns.
Health officials and Western donors say the southern African country has made significant progress in fighting HIV/AIDS but Zambians want reassurances their next leader, who replaces late President Levy Mwanawasa, will focus more closely on the problem.
HIV-positive Clementina Mumba said one reason Banda and Sata have kept quiet is because of the deeply-rooted stigma attached to HIV/AIDS.
“I am surprised not a single politician has declared he is HIV-positive, not even one minister or legislator has done that. This portrays a picture that HIV/AIDS only infects the poor,” said Mumba, chairwoman of AIDS pressure group Treatment Advocacy and Literacy.
“During the election campaign not a single candidate has said what they will do to tackle HIV/AIDS.”
Sixty eight percent of all people infected with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa, where more than three quarters of all AIDS-related deaths in 2007 occurred.
While Mwanawasa won praise from Western donors for economic management, HIV/AIDS presents far greater challenges.
SOME SUCCESS
More than a million of Zambia’s 12 million people are HIV positive and about 370,000 are in need of antiretroviral therapy.
In 2007, nearly 56,000 people died of AIDS, according to U.N. data, down from 78,000 in 2001.
But activists say many more die in their homes, unable to get treatment and unaccounted for because their families are too ashamed to say they had AIDS.
Health Ministry spokesman Cassius Banda said the HIV prevalence in adults aged 14-49 declined to 14 percent in 2007 from 16 percent in the previous decade.
The government has said it placed 170,000 people on free antiretroviral drug treatment from 10,000 in 2003, although scientific projections show 370,000 people required the drug.
But Zambians say they need much more than free drugs. Access to treatment and a shortage of medical staff make it more difficult to live with AIDS and HIV, the virus that causes the disease.
The government says hundreds of Zambian nurses have migrated to Britain and other Western countries in search of better-paying jobs.
“The drugs are available in the clinics, but it takes many hours to access them because there are fewer nurses to attend to infected people,” said 37-year-old carpenter Joseph Mwila.
“We want to know how the next president will deal with this issue, but they are all quiet.”
At a modern clinic in Kafue, 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of the capital Lusaka, patients in torn clothes wondered what their new leadership will offer.
“The pain of living with AIDS is real, my wife and young both died of AIDS. This has made me empty hearted,” said Kabamba, 48, a fisherman.
Reuters
ONLY SATA has tested first negative then negative again then all my GOD!!
sata is fit no HIV GO PF
I hope that the next government takes this plight very seiously,the whole issue surrounding health and welfare should be altogether overhauled and a very focussed approach adopted.Mr John Kabamba,I have read this story with sadness and I will see what I can do about this.
AM NUMBER TWO!!!
ba sata will tackle that issue, infact he mentioned it at his rally petauke that he will work very hard so that they can even find a cure…
If you have not taken an HIV test. Do not send a comment
#2 DID U TEST COBRA! AAABBAASHHH PABWATO!
Ba LT nishi naimwe tamubelenga ama News papa .Sata is the only Candidate who as talked about HIV AIDS recently in southern Province and northwestern Provice
SATANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA IS A FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL.
TO VOTE 4 SATTTTTTTAAAAAAAANAAAAAAA SHOWS YOUR FOOOOOOOOOOOOLISHNESS.
Yes ,Sata went for a TEST and his results were madee public.Don’t you rember!He actually went to CFB.Any the issue is that we need leaders who will be able to help fight the scourge of HIV AIDS in Zambia.
SATAN CANT BE FIT JUST CHECK HIS SKIN ON THE FACE KWATIYAMU MAKUFI NANGU MUMBALI YAMATAKO YE UULE!!!
# 11 if you have nothing to write on this blog you better keep quiet. Ala kupusa
#11 you are very dull, just check your langauge. i wonder why such pipo are on this blog. rubbishhhhhhhhhhhhhhh lets talk about real issues.
Why must they declare their HIV/AIDS status?
Does it mata to declare your status.. ???
ba iceberg you are freezing us. can you post your picture on the net? no . cos you probably look like the back of a camel
RB has at least declared the size of his nose. That must surely count for something !
does it mean that hiv positive pipo cant be president? work up zambians
The decision to declare one’s status is a personal one. what is important is that people should test and know their status. They can decide to tell or not to tell.
The issues of HIV/AIDS need everybody to be involved in the fight. Its encouraging that now we have people coming out in the open, at least to urge go for the Tests. Mr. Sata did come out openly, and he has said he will support the fight against HIV/AIDS.
I recently was in Uganda on an Experiental Attachment to Combat HIV/AIDS and what I learned has encouraged me together with other to form an Alumni here in Zambia which will fight for all those who are infected or affected. Very soon, the formation will be made public, and it will be a relief for those who are in denial. Be on the lookout!!!
Who tells you that a person who is HIV is not fit and cannot aspire for any public office. I tested positive in 2003 and i am still living and very fit. Actually some of my collegues who were negative are already gone.I am still doing very fine and i have been promoted twice since then for my exemplary performance at work. I work for a very reputable mine as a mine manager in Southern part of Africa.I still enjoy sex with my wife who has maintained her negative status.We are blessed with four very healthy sons. People die due to lack of knowledge. Acquire knowledge on HIV/AIDS and you will remain free forever!!!
RB should be tested. I dont trust him
what are you trying to imply? So what if someone is positive? Do you mean that if someone is positive then he/she should not run for elections? Are you then saying that those who are Positive should not be employed?
HH is negative and satna and nyama soya batoping’a….viva young man !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
What the author is requesting is possibly a non-discriminatory policy or Act on HIV/AIDS.
Ones status remains your private business but as a potential president the nation needs to know the way forward i.e. do we plant and eat BEETROOT or subsidise on the retrovirals and related health matters like physio etc
its sad to read some of the comments on hiv-aids. anyone can have hiv, and the people living with it did not chose to have it. in this day and time its either you are infected or affected and we should not forget that. a person with hiv and aids is capable of having any job that any human being can do, being hiv postive does not pervent a person from doing what they want to do with their lives. l was found hiv postive in 2000, but that didnt stop me from living my life the way l want. l went to university to study for my degree and now am studying for my masters and l have a very good job. so get tested, if postive, take your medication.if negative make sure you stay that way.
The reason no leaders have come out and decalared their HIV/AIDS status is because there is still a lot of stigma and shame attached to it.
Mr. Kabamba is right to demand that the candidates make it clear what their position is on HIV/AIDS and how they propose to combat the problem.
How does satana not contract aids when he has a bunch of concubine and street children.
Rupia shifted from one woman of his age to young girl of my age and how safe is he?
vote wisely
voteHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHh
Then what if the leaders test- negative or positive? Its a personal issue not for you voters to debate, atase!!!!
Even HIV positive people have a right to contest the presidential elections. We have no law that prevents them from standing or declaring their HIV status. I wonder how many of us commenting on this issue have had the courage to go for a test.
Bonse mwalilyala!
‘ lyuala”
EVERYTHING IN ZAMBIA IS A JOKE ,I M TIRED OF SEEING THOSE REDDISH-PURPLISH BLEMISHES ON THESE HONOURABLES ITS TIME THEY TOLD US THE TRUTH ABT THOSE SUSPICIOUS AILMENTS WE SEE ON THEIR FACES THE REDDISH LIPS AND STUFF..THO ONLY SEEN 1.
#32 its “lwala”.
Ever heard of CONFIDENCIALITY? Its in the oath that Doctors make. Nobody needs to announce there status. Public figure or not. Its personal.
I am still urging Veep RBB and the whole MMD to endorse president HH before it is too late. Zambia can not afford to have Sata as Zambia President at this time. Let us convince Sata to sit for Grade 7, 9 and 12 exams before he can come back and contend the Zambian Presidency.
Countdown: 1 day 45 minutes remaining and we are counting.
I envision a Zambia whose people shall stand tall as PROUD persons instead of being timid due to lack of confidence and motivation. President HH has committed himself to serve Zambia to the best of his ability and so, let us endorse HH on Thursday so that HH can bring a better future to our children. Together, yes we can and we still have 1 full day to decide
Zambia has approximately one day to chnage its destiny in future terms on to a course that will bring all things to be running well for all Zambians. I am a carrier of a Zambia National Registeration Card (NRC) which shows that I am a Zambian Citizen. On it (NRC), there is nowhere written Tonga except the village of Chief Mapanza – which is insignificant anyway for I have never been there sadly. I also have a Zambian P a s s p o r t which also has no reference to my tribe Tonga while it only indicates my NRC (Zambian Citizenship) number. So, fellow Zambian Citizens,it is us all as Zambians and not HH as a Tonga person although this is only true (HH being Tonga). Together, YES we can.
It would be nice for all candidates to declare their HIV status. However,what worries me is the fact that almost all of the presidential candidates have not articulated much on this serious subject which continues to ravage our society.What do they intend to do about it in order to save our young and old lives? shame on them!
30TH OCTOBER, 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCING MAY ONLY BE ON SUNDAY 3RD NOVEMBER, 2008.
“The candidate with the majority of votes will be declared president. The results are expected to be announced between 3 and 9 November.”
Source: ht tp : / / news . bbc . co . uk/ 2 / hi / africa / 7691717 . s tm
Fellow Zambian Citizens, let us all brace ourselves for the worst or the best. May the good Lord God protect out families.
“Zambia’s four Presidential Profiles
The BBC’s Musonda Chibamba profiles the four Zambian presidential candidates standing in Thursday’s polls and hoping to succeed the late President Levy Mwanawasa who died in August after suffering a stroke.”
ht tp : / / news . bbc . co . uk / 2 / hi / africa / 7693337 . s tm
Listern to the 3 main candidates for Zambian President and also see their profiles wirtten by MUSONDA CHIBANDA – I hope Zambia will continue to have peace for some TRIBALISTS are really bringing us as a Nation down.
i like the idea of going 4 VCT but going public shud be left to individuals. Those who want shud public. Guys muletekanya pakulanda. Dont just Bwata bwata ideas. tiyeni tika voteee chabe
Jokes aside ladies and gentlemen this is a very serious issue. The aspiring Presidential candidates whether positive or negative must show their zeal to fight this disease. The povert levels in the country are very high and therefore no matter how many ARVs the infected people take, they wont get well because they wont manage decent meals. I have every hope that of the four candidates, Sata stands out to be more committed thats how he responded by going for the tests twice and went public. HIV positive Zambian can still be the President so let us no discriminate they are as much Zambians as any other Zambian entitled to enjoy all the rights.
WHY SHOULD THEY REVAIL EVERYTHING ABOUT THEMSELVES.
Ba Satana is really sick.I was worried when I heard he’s been flown to south africa for treatment again.We don’t want to have another state funeral in Zambia,therefore Vote wisely.Vote for healthy people.RB is very healthy.
Ba Satana is really sick.I was worried when I heard he’s been flown to south africa for treatment again.We don’t want to have another state funeral in Zambia,therefore Vote wisely.Vote for healthy people.RB is very healthy.
another sick person must be Fred m’membe.he sleeps with gals from his office,ladies allover worsestill.goes to marry somebodies wife,a man dying from cancer.Shame!!!
OPEN LETTER TO THE POST NEWSPAPERS
LUSAKA
26th June, 2008
RE: DOUBLE STANDARDS IN YOUR MEDIA COVERAGE
Reference is made to the above subject matter.
It is with deep regret that it has come to a scenario where we have to write an open letter to your newspaper that claims to dig deeper. We have been observing with dismay for sometime now about your behaviour and double standards when it comes to handling national issues.
We have also observed with dismay that your paper has of late been swimming and taking pride in past glory. However, we are aware that this glory was fought for and sustained by senior journalists worth their salt who have since left on their own or have
been frustrated to leave. These patriots in the true sense fought for real press freedom at the time founding editor Mr. Robby Makayi was at the helm. We also know that the late Jowie Mwiinga who took over for a short time from the seasoned journalist, had to leave for the sake of integrity. These two and others who include former special projects editor and one of the true founders, Masautso Phiri, worked tirelessly and were most often jailed. They did not resort to cutting deals for fear of jail. They were really the pioneers of the freedom that Zambians, the media and you as beneficiaries are to some extent enjoying. As for you, unfortunately, you are doing so with impunity characteriz
characterized by broad daylight blackmail.
We are also aware that the great leader of Zambia’s then largest opposition party, Mr. Anderson Mazoka (May His Soul Rest in Peace), contributed enormously to the establishment of the Post Newspapers. He defied all odds to financially see the Post off the drawing board at the time when Anglo-American Corporation still dealt with the stubborn Kenneth Kaunda regime. He took the right risk for the sake of the nation to defy the political status quo of the UNIP days. Even when that man was unjustly, unfairly and at times immorally criticized by your tabloid, he never made any attempt to sell his shares as one blackmailer at your institution had scheme
Having given a brief background, we wish to bring to your attention the following serious issues whose handling by yourselves leaves much to be desired:
1. Scandals at Drug Enforcement Commission
– When the disheartening scandals started at Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) sometime last year, your newspaper was the first one to be entrusted with responsibility to expose the corruption, nepotism, blackmail, harassment and intimidation that had rocked the institution. Several months passed without your paper showing any concern to the injustices that were being perpetrated by the embattled Ryan Chitoba regime. We could not believe when unsung wise citizens of the nation advised us tha
that you were operating as an owl for hire on behalf of the said regime and two accomplices close to State House. You, with impunity, went against journalism ethics by giving away and in the process endangering your sources to the Chitobas who at one of the crisis meetings that was called at Mr. Chitoba’s home in Olympia to sort out his current predicament, called one of your editors to register his disappointment about your joining the bandwagon of newspapers that saw it fit to expose the rot at DEC. Mind you, these papers had received the same data several months after we gave it to you. This criminal-minded editor, who should have been prosecuted over his continued receiving of gifts from
Your inertia in dealing with issues surrounding DEC, more especially when it comes to Mr. Chitoba and his relative Peter Chingaipe, is not a secret matter. We are all aware Mr. Chingaipe was sent to our institution to protect Mr. Chitoba’s and a named minister’s interest. You are also aware that Mr. Chingaipe can only be removed after finalizing his purging of suspected whistle blowers through the replacement of the intelligence personnel with Mr. Chitoba’s relatives one of whom is Isaac Musonda who used to stay with Mr. Chingaipe. Just fairly recently, Mr. Chingaipe selectively sent a group of officers related to Mr. Chitoba and Mr. Jacob John Koyi to Flower Cottage for intelligence tra
training. All this is at the expense of seasoned, qualified and deserving employees who joined our institution a long time ago.
– Mr. Chitoba’s contract expired in early April this year and your newspaper is very much aware of this fact but is conspicuously quiet. Instead, you have connived with MMD cadre Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika following his rush meeting at State House to report to his masters, and not the people of Zambia, to portray a picture that Mr. Nixon Banda’s contract could not be renewed on account of age. You feigned a story in which one of your editors tried with impunity to disinform the nation about the ACC Director General’s contract as being at the merc
training. All this is at the expense of seasoned, qualified and deserving employees who joined our institution a long time ago.
– Mr. Chitoba’s contract expired in early April this year and your newspaper is very much aware of this fact but is conspicuously quiet. Instead, you have connived with MMD cadre Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika following his rush meeting at State House to report to his masters, and not the people of Zambia, to portray a picture that Mr. Nixon Banda’s contract could not be renewed on account of age. You feigned a story in which one of your editors tried with impunity to disinform the nation about the ACC Director General’s contract as being at the merc
mercy of the ACC Act without taking note of the entire section. Try to dig deeper next time and get what the law says; you will be shocked with Aka’s pretentious and uninformed position. We are even wondering on what basis you carried out the stage-managed interview with Aka. This man is not even a spokesperson of the ACC neither is he the ACC chairperson. Do you really mean to tell the truth when in your editorials you have continued claiming to speak on behalf of the people of Zambia? Which people? Is it the poor, down trodden employees of DEC or those who have looted its treasury to the extent that its workers owe their landlords several millions of kwacha in unpaid accommodation arrea
? What is the standard yardstick that you use to determine that you are working for the majority of the people when in actual sense most of the people of Zambia have come to realise your extortionist, blackmail and unrepentant tactics? Even those people that have not yet come to this realisation will soon know the truth about your double standards no matter how much you may attempt to brainwash them; it is only a matter of time. You have simply become fake and valueless characters waiting to pounce on the next highest bidder!
– This suspended Commissioner, Mr. Chitoba has even the audacity to continue drawing a full salary and enjoying security personnel and other essential benefit
like drawing fuel from DEC at a time when he is facing graft and his contract came to an end. This man does not even deserve the title of suspended DEC Commissioner as the contract expired last April and he is equally, like you, living in past glory. The sooner he accepts his fate, the better for him. We have in the recent past tipped your hard-working employees but for your resolve to side with the wrong side of the law. Why should Mr. Chitoba remain a suspended Commissioner when his contract ended? What are you and your bosses protecting Mr. Chitoba afraid of? Why are you not reporting on this matter of public interest as journalism ethics demand? Where has your notion of the people gon
gone since you claim to speak for the majority of the people? Is DEC made up of dogs or is it the dogs that have come to The Post? As tax payers and law-abiding citizens, in line with a right to reply column, we demand that you treat all matters of national interest with priority and fairness. Corruption is not only a scourge when it involves the second Republican President Dr. F.T.J. Chiluba or those who served in his regime. So much money has continued to be lost in this regime that together with you is playing double standards to advantage your bellies.
– Our outgoing humble deputy Commissioner for operations and corrupt-free officer, Mr. Lottie Mpundu had his contract,like
Ala elo Sandra ONE apena fye!! Mwandi mune or bushe ni chikashana, fumya tu data, release the intimate details so that we can determine for ourselves – we have a cabal of the elite in zed – we need to know what is happening from the inside – you are a true patriot!!!
#26
Nice of you to hit the nail on the head.
So happy for you that your status didn’t pull you down instead you have soared the academic heights may God continue to bless you,you are a real living legend all the best and may those of us still in darkness seek the light while it still shines.
Ettilenni
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