Chiefs must play part in AIDS fight, The Chronicle

This story is the view of one traditional chief on the need for the chiefs, as custodians and leaders of communities, to be included as key players in HIV/AIDS programmes implemented by the National AIDS Council.

• It is told through the voice and perspective of one chief, who purportedly speaks on behalf of all chiefs. It is a one-sourced story which therefore lacks balance and a diversity of views.
•  The story provides no information to link the role of chiefs as the custodians often of traditional practices and norms which perpetuate gender inequalities and how they can play a role in HIV/AIDS prevention, for eg. being aware of the fact that gender inequalities are linked to the spread of HIV, and of the fact that often chiefs and traditional leaders do not promote gender equality, the journalist could have developed an interesting feature on how HIV/AIDS presents an opportunity to educate chiefs and traditional leaders towards challenging gendered norms and practices that make women and girls vulnerable to HIV.
• The story also fails to give any background on, among other questions unanswered, whether chiefs have been approached or are involved in national AIDS initiatives? How they are involved and what has been the impact of their involvement? How many chiefs are in the country? What are their views on gender equality? Are chiefs aware of the gender dimensions of the pandemic?