The Mozambique Fight Against AIDS

Religions claim to be the moral voice of the world and to actively speak up on behalf of the oppressed, yet there are times when religious leaders make statements that are so controversial, they risk undoing all the good work of those who really do mean to be helpful.

Mozambique: Natural and Man-made Disasters

A small country in south-east Africa, Mozambique has been dogged by troubles for decades. As with other African countries, Mozambique it is relatively poor and suffers from a weak infrastructure as well as its fair share of natural disasters.

Much of the country has been left with the legacy of landmines. Amputees serve as a reminder of years at war.

When it looked as though the country was rebuilding itself from bitter fighting which claimed the lives of millions between 1977 and 1992, natural disaster hit in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The country suffered from two years of floods followed by a year of severe drought. This left many dead, more homeless, and a destroyed infrastructure which has only been built up during the previous decade. 50% of the country's population are now living below the UN’s poverty line of $1 per day.

AIDS in Africa

In Africa, AIDS continues to spread at an alarming rate and in many areas the number of people with HIV/AIDS has reached disastrous levels. In Mozambique, there are about 500 new cases of AIDS every day. Despite the hard work and educational initiatives of organisations like the UN, educating people about the virus is slow. Now, years of hard work have been set back by the reckless words of the Archbishop of Mozambique.

The Archbishop of Mozambique

Maputo Archbishop Francisco Chimoio recently caused controversy when he stated that an unknown number of European manufactured condoms were deliberately infected with HIV to help wipe out the African population. According to the Archbishop, “condoms are not sure because I know that there are two countries in Europe where they are making condoms with the virus on purpose.” However he refused to name the countries involved.

In response, the leader of the Catholic Church in Mozambique said that the only way to avoid infection is for the population to remain faithful to their partners and opt for abstinence.

A Dangerous Game

The Archbishop is playing a very dangerous game with people’s lives. 17.5% of Mozambicans are Catholic and 16.2% of the country’s population are HIV positive, so his comments will have a profound effect on the future welfare of his people.

He should know better than to make such unfounded comments and as a religious leader needs to take some responsibility for what he is saying. These comments will not only affect the population of Mozambique and Africa, but they could also have a huge impact on the public perception of Christianity and religion as a whole.

Inflammatory statements not based in fact alienate those trying to help the sick and dying. Archbishop Francisco Chimoio's words send the wrong message to the less educated in Africa -- those same people who are at risk of contracting the HIV virus. Moreover, it’s a shame that someone in a position of authority is able to create such havoc with just a few words. One must question whether or not men like this belong in secular, let alone religious, circles.

The symbol that provide hope but also alienate

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