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Ambassador Charles Ray was joined by musicians Alexio Kawara, Edith Katiji of the weUtonga music outfit, Big Brother Africa 2010 runner up Munyaradzi Chidzonga, ZBC television presenter Rumbidzai Mungwira, footballers Desmond Maringwa, Washington Arubi and Norman Maroto.
Ambassador Ray said he thought it wise to invite a group of young celebrities for testing as the young are seldom listening to old folk like him and hopes the group will set an example for others to follow.
“Together with my new friends, I want to send a very powerful message to the youth of Zimbabwe. You do have power over your future and that includes your health. Know your HIV status; know your health care options and live long,” Ambassador Ray said.
Wednesday’s tests results were kept personal and confidential.
Speaking after the test, Zimbabwe Big Brother Africa 2010 representative Munyaradzi Chidzonga said young people should openly discuss sex issues and not to treat it as taboo.“As young people we need to start talking about the things that we talk about behind closed doors. It is dangerous to have sex because there are a lot of things that could go terribly wrong.
If you know your status you have the power to change how you want your life to be lived and change the lives of the people around you,” said Chidzonga.
Alexio said stardom made temptations higher because every lady wants to get attention.
“We have mistakes and we have temptations. I think our temptations are at a higher level than the other temptations, especially in an industry where you are in the limelight and every lady wants to say something to you.
We think about these things (HIV test) and don’t do it. That’s the norm of the human mind, some people just think, some people do. But it is very important to act,” said Alexio.
Edith Katiji said female musicians are very vulnerable as they are always compromised making it important to be tested regularly.
“We always find ourselves compromised. It is good to get tested at least after every 6 months because chances of being compromised are high,” she said.
Stigma attached to HIV infection in some communities has hindered people from seeking counseling and testing.
Official figures put Zimbabwe’s HIV infection rate at about 13 percent of the overall population, but more than 20 percent in the 13-30 age group.
Dynamos veteran midfielder and President of the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe who had never been tested in his 15 year playing career urged footballers to be tested and would be free to accompany peers who need to be tested.
“We have seen so many (footballers) who have gone the way of HIV and died. Nobody wanted to come forward and do something like this (getting tested). Maybe I am the first one, and I am proud of myself,” said Maringwa.
Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world to commemorate World AIDS day with the main celebrations held at Rimuka stadium in Kadoma. (ZimEye, Zimbabwe
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