The Sunday Mail
Debra Matabvu
FOR many formally employed Zimbabweans, the AIDS Levy is just a monthly compulsory financial charge that can be done away with.
However, for Siphiwe Chabikwa (59), one of the women who advocated the levy, it is a life-saving emolument that ought to be celebrated. And on every World AIDS Day, which is commemorated annually on December 1, she appreciates the gift of life and the introduction of the AIDS Levy, as she was one of the HIV/AIDS activists who advocated the levy, leading to its introduction in 2000.
“I know taxes are really not celebrated worldwide; they are actually loathed,” she says with a chuckle during an interview in Mbare last week.
“Even in the Bible, tax collectors were hated and regarded as the most sinful. But when I look at the AIDS Levy, I feel proud because it saved many lives but mostly because I advocated it and lived to see it become a reality.”
Born in Bulawayo, Siphiwe moved to Harare in 1982 after she met her husband, with the couple settling in Glen View 1.
Siphiwe believes she was infected in 1985, when she gave birth to her second daughter, Ellen. Although both mother and child did not get tested, Ellen was a sickly child.
Barely a month went by without Ellen falling sick from colds, diarrhoea and mouth sores, among other diseases. Resultantly, she died in 1998.
“During those days, there was no pre and after birth testing. There was no prevention of mother-to-child transmission, so I only knew she was HIV positive when I saw her death certificate, written ‘HIV-related diseases’,” she said.
“It then dawned on me that I, too, was HIV positive. I remember developing boils when I was breastfeeding her and I strongly suspect that is how she contracted the disease. The boils persisted such that nurses discouraged me from breastfeeding my other three boys who are HIV negative.”
Due to the unavailability of medication then, Siphiwe resorted to herbs and traditional foods.
She soon learnt it was not only lack of medication that was affecting people living with HIV/AIDS but lack of information and support.
This ignited the need to advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS.
“Stigmatisation was rife. In some health institutions, we were treated differently. Some funeral policies did not accept people with HIV/AIDS and it seemed Government was not taking the issue seriously,” Siphiwe added.
“We advocated special clinics for people living with HIV/AIDS because of the stigma that was there at clinics and hospitals. That is how Mashambanzou Trust Care started. We had advocated our rights and better treatment in health institutions. We were given the house by a well-wisher. The house was turned into a health care facility that caters for people living with HIV/AIDS. With time, support groups also grew.”
Lack of medication, however, took precedence over all issues whenever she met with other activists. Although scientists were making breakthroughs, with medication available in other countries, Zimbabwe was yet to receive medicines for HIV. Activists began to demand a special levy to be set aside for medication.
“At that time, there was a drought relief levy, but already discussions around the AIDS Levy had gathered momentum. The drought levy was then turned into the development levy.
“We then demanded that some part of the levy be channelled towards procurement of medication and management of HIV/AIDS. Obviously, there was fierce debate over the issue, with some opposed to the levy, but I am glad the Government listened to our plea.”
The AIDS Levy was introduced in 1999 and became effective in January 2000. It is managed by a government agency, the National Aids Council (NAC). The money is collected by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, which disburses it to NAC monthly.
Introduction of the levy received praise and admiration from other countries, a situation that saw a number of donors partnering with Government to procure antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. ARVs are procured through funds from the AIDS Levy and also funding from donor partners. In 2000, US$20 892 was collected from the AIDS Levy, with US$38 million collected in 2014.
According to NAC, in 2021, over $1 billion was collected from the levy against a target of $885 million.
For Siphiwe, the AIDS Levy led to the introduction of ARVs in the country.
“ARVs have completely changed the face of HIV worldwide but, for people living with HIV/AIDS, it is our life saver,” she said.
“I have been living with HIV for 37 years now. My husband and I, as well as thousands of people in the country, are alive because of this medication introduced in the country through the AIDS Levy.”
As the world celebrates World AIDS day this week, Siphiwe looks back and feels proud of the work she has done to create a better place for people living with HIV/AIDS.
