Govt To Decriminalise HIV Transmission

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said Government is set to repeal a legal provision that criminalises transmission of HIV/AIDS to a partner

Ziyambi said the amendments will probably be incorporated in the Marriages Amendment Bill which is at drafting stage. He said this in the National Assembly during a question-and- answer session yesterday after Zengeza West legislator Job Sikhala (MDC-Alliance) had asked if Government was considering amending the law which criminalise transmission of HIV/AIDS. Said Ziyambi:

When this legislation came into effect, the thinking then was that we need to control the spread of HIV by criminalising those who transmit it to partners willingly. But the global thinking now is that that law stigmatises people living with HIV/AIDS and studies have shown that it does not produce the results that were intended. What the Ministry is going to do is to repeal that section of the law and ensure that we keep up to speed with modern trends in the world.

More: Herald