Harare — HIV and Aids activists have described Mabvuku MP Mr Timothy Mubhawu's recent utterances on quarantining HIV-positive people not only as inhuman but also childish and degrading of a leader.

Mr Mubhawu has suggested the separation of people living with HIV from society to curb further spreading of the infection, while Makoni East MP Cde Shadreck Chipanga was against HIV-testing on the grounds that Zimbabwe does not have adequate supply of anti-retroviral drugs to sustain all those who test positive.

Mr Believe Dhliwayo said people like Mr Mubhawu needed to be involved in all HIV and Aids programmes for them to get a deeper meaning and appreciation of what is going on. "I won't blame him for his ignorance. At times we take for granted that what everyone else is aware of everyone appreciates and they are of the same school of thought as everyone else," he said.

Mr Dhliwayo said changing attitudes and personal perceptions on HIV and Aids calls for more than just workshops.

"People living with HIV are human beings like him and deserve dignity and respect just as him. How dare he wants to quarantine us from the society?"

Another activist, Ms Evance Masau, said the silence by the rest of the MPs when their colleagues made such backward statements was worrying.

"I think a serious campaign should target the legislators. How can we have a lawmaker advocating such gross human rights violation by isolating people with illness? And to think the person doesn't even know his status is saddening," she said.

Youth in Development Trust deplored the statements by the two MPs, saying they stall Government efforts in fighting HIV and Aids since the first case was recorded.

YDT programme manager Mr Emmanuel Sibanda said: "The statement was highly discriminatory and childish of a leader. Unfortunately, it comes at a time when the country is winning the war against discrimination."