Don’t make HIV a crime – Mogae

Former president of Botswana Festus Mogae has called on leaders not to pass laws that criminalise infection of HIV/AIDS as that will not help in fighting the scourge.

Speaking when he called on President Rupiah Banda at State House yesterday, Mr Mogae who is also the chairperson of the Champions for an HIV Free Generation noted that leaders should fight stigmatisation instead of criminalising HIV infection.

He was happy with the political will that the Zambian Government had continued to show in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Mr Mogae said the problem of HIV/AIDS negatively affected the continent and Southern Africa in particular and now was the time for leaders to unite in accelerating efforts aimed at reducing infections.

“It is vital that we engage the Church, parliamentarians, traditional leaders in our efforts to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS,” Mr Mogae who was flanked by first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda said.

Dr Kaunda is one of the champions for an HIV Free Generation that also include Speciosa Wandira, a former vice-president of Uganda and former chairperson of the Kenya National AIDS control council Miriam Were.

And President Banda hailed Mr Mogae and his team for leading efforts aimed at fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Southern Africa.

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