Thrilled delegates who attended a Policy Dialogue Workshop held by Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV –ZNNP+ in conjunction with SAfAIDS on August 07 ,2009 @ Harare international Conference Centre-HICC.
This is what ZNNP+ and SAFAIDS said about my performance:
Poem – Nqobile Malinga (ZBC -News Reporter and Poet-Musician)
A powerful and very relevant poem was recited by Nqobile Malinga.
This touching poem entitled “Nqonqo” in Ndebele meaning, ‘knock, knock’ touched upon a wide range of issues that affect Zimbabweans in general and PLHIV in particular. Some of the issues raised included the absence of life prolonging drugs (ARVs) in the hospitals and clinics, the violation of the rights of PLHIV, stigma and discrimination, the plight if orphans and other vulnerable groups. He also spoke about the need for openness as well as the plight of the prisoners. He ended his poem by reiterating the theme of the workshop “MIPA www…” and encouraged those in attendance to strive to achieve MIPA as this was the only way that the fight against HIV and AIDS was going to be won.
Some on the delegates who attended include the following; Honourable Member of Parliament, Brian Tshuma and Senator Buchiwa (Parliamentary Select Committee);Tinashe Mundawarara from Zimbabwe Lawyers For Human Rights (ZLHR); Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights (ZDHR); Min of Education, Sport ,Arts and Culture; Mr. Kingfrey Chizema, Chairperson of the ZNNP+ Advisory Board;Charles Maunga, Legal person in the ZNNP+ Advisory Board; Dr Kwame Ampomah, the Country Representative for UNAIDS; Ms Joyce Siveregi, Deputy Director of Zimbabwe AIDS Network (ZAN); National AIDS Council (NAC)Advisory Board member, Mr. Bernard Nyathi; Dr Tabona Shoko, Executive Director of ZNNP+ and the Acting Chair of the National Executive Council (NEC)for ZNNP+, Mr. Sikhumbuzo Muvhinjelwa. Women’s Action Group (WAG); the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture; Friends of the Children (FOC); Zimbabwe National Evangelical Religious Leaders Association (ZINERELA); Girl Child Network (GCN); SAYWHAT; Community Working Group on Health (CWGH); HIV Activists; ZNNP+ secretariat, as well as the Media persons that included Standard, ZBC News and the Financial Gazette.
