Jail term for HIV+ husband

A nurse in western Zimbabwe discovered her husband was HIV-positive, and reported it to the police.

A nurse in western Zimbabwe discovered her husband was HIV-positive, and reported it to the police.

Published Sep 3, 2015

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Harare - A nurse in western Zimbabwe discovered her husband was HIV-positive, and reported it to the police.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison this week for failing to disclose his status and transmitting the deadly virus to his wife.

The man is employed as a driver at the Blanket gold mine in south-western Zimbabwe.

Prosecutor Johannes Tlou said the HIV-positive man married the complainant, a nurse, aged 35, in 2013.

In February last year, she tested HIV-negative but six months later, while doing household chores, she found a wrapped bag of antiretroviral drugs in a drawer in their home.

The Gwanda Magistrate’s Court heard that she had confronted her husband with the information and had asked him to explain.

He, however, responded violently, assaulted her and ordered her to leave their matrimonial home.

She left and went for another HIV test. This time the results were positive.

The man will effectively spend three years in jail if he is considered well behaved while serving his sentence. He was also cautioned for assaulting his wife.

About 15 percent of all Zimbabweans aged 15 to 49 are infected with HIV, according to the National Aids Council, with nearly a million people in need of antiretroviral treatment.

About 70 000 people die each year from diseases associated with HIV and there are about 70 000 new infections annually.

Independent Foreign Service

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