By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has blasted Finance deputy minister Terrence Mukupe over his sentiments on radio that former Finance minister, Tendai Biti had not taken his dose ARVs before going on air.

During a live radio debate with Biti last week, Mukupe suggested that Biti was losing his temper during the live debate because he had not taken his medication.

Mukupe said the statement to Biti after he had alleged Mukupe was high on drugs.

“For the purposes of denigrating and casting the listenership of StarFM against the person of Mr Tendai Biti, Deputy Minister Mukupe asked Mr Biti if he had taken his anti-retroviral (ARVs),” the doctors lobby group said in a statement.

The ZADHR reiterated that political leaders must be torch bearers in the fight against HIV and Aids and associated stigma and discrimination.

“Hon Mukupe’s utterances casts aspersions in this fight.

“We believe the lack of appreciation of issues such as the impact of HIV and Aids on the socio-political landscape of the country generally drive the poor financing of the sector. Hon Mukupe, in this instance, personifies such failures.

The lobby group said Mukupe’s remarks was a reflection why there was limited commitment towards HIV programming including stigma and discrimination.

“Stigma and discrimination remain a threat to the fight against HIV and Aids and, as ZADHR, we call upon all leaders, political, religious and community alike to take a stand against this vice.”

Source: Newsday.