The rise and fall of civil society in Botswana (Part 1) :: Mmegi Online

In 1999, David Chizao Ngele, the first Motswana to go public with his HIV+ status, together with his fellow comrades in the then HIV anti-stigma support group, convened a lunch meeting at the Red Cross offices, under the auspices of the AIDS/STDs Unit with the aim of lobbying for more support from government.

Even though the meeting started off as an informal discussion, it would heat up towards 3pm in the same afternoon when one of the support group members suggested that the meeting be formally recorded. That individual would at the end of the meeting be elected the Chairperson of the interim committee, namely Ngele.

The AIDS/STD Unit then supported Ngele with the task of mobilising other potential HIV+ candidates and activists and not long after, along with his fellow comrades in the HIV anti-stigma struggle then, the Botswana Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (BONEPWA+) was born and registered in 2000.

Already have an active account? Log in here.

Or Sign up and get unlimited access to premium articles.

Explore

More

The rise and fall of civil society in Botswana (Part 1)

A promising step for public schools, but...

Does the left hand know what the right hand is doing at BFA?

New public co. to transform school infrastructure

Parly rejects motion on judicial officers' 'security unit'

Keorapetse rules on Moswaane's exaggerated counterfeit medicines claims

Small stock theft hits Serowe

Woman torches boyfriend's house after finding another woman

Dog found feeding on foetal remains in Nkoyaphiri

A promising step for public schools, but...