Posted on 06/18/2004 1:37:24 PM PDT by wagglebee
Pretoria/Johannesburg, June 17. (Guardian News Service): The Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, admitted for the first time on Wednesday that members of his family had been affected by HIV/AIDS.
Mr Mugabe told a conference on AIDS that unnamed members of his family had become ill from the disease. Describing HIV/AIDS as "one of the greatest challenges facing our nation", he said that most people had been affected "and that includes the extended family of the president himself".
The admission came after years of official neglect of a virus that has infected almost a quarter of adults in Zimbabwe, one of the highest prevalence rates in the world. In 2003 1.8 million Zimbabweans were infected and a recent survey found that 51% of prisoners were HIV-positive.
As many as 3,000 people in Zimbabwe die of AIDS-related illnesses each week, a toll largely blamed for a drop in life expectancy to 36 years. Figures released this week showed that 135,000 people died of AIDS last year.
Mr Mugabe was speaking at the country's first AIDS conference, which was designed to enable officials, health workers and community groups to draw up a strategy to fight the disease.
His revelation put him in the company of Nelson Mandela, South Africa's former president, who broke a taboo by speaking publicly of losing relatives to the disease.
Other former presidents have gone further by specifying that they lost not just members of their extended family, which in Africa can be large, but close relatives. Zambia's Kenneth Kaunda said his son had died of AIDS and Malawi's Bakili Muluzi his brother.
Mr Mugabe may have noted that those admissions earned plaudits at home and abroad for helping to fight the stigma of a disease which affects an estimated 30 million Africans.
On Wednesday Mugabe also asked the private sector for help. "There is no doubt that HIV and AIDS is one of the greatest challenges facing our nation. The disease does not respect status, it does not respect colour ... It is a war that belongs to all of us," he said.
"We appeal for the greater participation of the private sector. I believe there is scope for [the] government and the pharmaceutical companies to work together so as to bring the prices of the drugs down and enable more of our people to benefit."
The UN, a cosponsor of the event, said economic hardships had led people, particularly women, to take sexual risks.
"The fact that it has taken us this long just to hold a conference shows how much the government has neglected the suffering caused by AIDS," said one delegate, a doctor.
Only about 5% of the population has come forward for testing, reflecting a continent-wide reluctance to know one's HIV status.
In a rare display of unity last month, nine government and opposition members of parliament (MPs) went for voluntary counselling and testing, prompting critics to ask when the president would make a high-profile gesture of his own.
The government denies accusations it has lacked the political will to deal effectively with the crisis, first reported in Zimbabwe 18 years ago.
It established the National AIDS Council, but the organisation has been plagued by corruption scandals. Critics say it only funds groups controlled by Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.
If he has any other cool tunes I'd love to know of them.
Otherwise, it's Billy Joel and Jim Croce all the way! At least as far as crooners go.
No explaining it without the MONEY trail.
Crocodile Rock.
Texas Love Song.
The latter is a great parody if you know Texas, or a nasty slur if you don't.
Though, when you look at professional agitators like Charles Barron, you have to wonder if they're doing this out of genuine conviction.
I know that the guy's an incredible imbecile, who has no business being on a local community board, let alone holding a New York City Council seat.
However, it just might be plausible that this Black Panther puke actually believes in the swill that he's shoveling.
Though, with this intense heat, my brain cells have ceased to function on any meaningful level, so I'll just have take your word for it.
"Crocodile Rock" would be a decent tune, were it not played incessantly by every single 'Oldies' station thoughout the entire country.
Does this happen on any other continent?
Hard to say how a broken mind works.
As the great Curtis Sliwa is wont to say:
These stunads need a 'check up from the neck up.'
I wish I was a billionaire. For 1 year. Then I'd give the money left to my favorite causes and go back to living in my car.
he jumps on a plane, then jumps on a "french whore"
its good to be the king...
Though, I think that George Soros has the "crazy rich philanthropist" role down pat.
Sorry 'bout that.
And no one on this planet has dethroned Mel Brooks yet.
Van Morrison.
He is putting his money in the wrong places.
No offense taken.
C'MON!
Van Morrison?
"The Chieftains kick some major, royal Irish arse; but Van Morrison?(!)
Well, I guess I'm just from a different school of thought, music wise.
Man, I am sure sweatin' up a storm!
I think I'll get off this forum and get a cold drink, before my head collapses onto my keyboard.
I'm heading to the house now and crack a few cold ones. Good talkin to ya. Later.
Good one! :)
It's okay!
You don't have to like Van Morrison! LOL!
( I really LIKe "Tupallo Honey". It's about Freedom, you know! )
And I think I have everything the Cheiftains ever put out....
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