Denial of ARVs, is denial of right to life � Justice Dingake

Justice Key Dingake of the Gaborone High Court yesterday ordered that government provide Zimbabwean inmate, Gift Brendan Mwale with the ARVs with immediate effect. Dingake’s order follows the one that was issued by Justice Bengbame Sechele in August 2014.

Sechele ordered that two foreign prisoners who had taken the government to court through a civic organisation, as well as other foreign inmates who qualified for the life-saving medication under the Botswana Treatment Guidelines be provided with free ARVs. When passing judgment yesterday, Dingake stated that the denial of medication to HIV positive foreign prisoners was a denial to their right to life, which is enshrined under the Constitution of Botswana.