Covid-19: Zambian MP with HIV tests positive

Zambian MP Princess Kasune Zulu, who is living with HIV and is a prominent AIDS activist, has announced that she has tested positive for Covid-19.

Ms Zulu, a member of the opposition United Party for National Development, was tested last Thursday.

Some 15 Zambian MPs have so far tested positive for Covid-19, according to health minister Chitalu Chilufya.

Parliamentary sittings have been indefinitely suspended.

Ms Zulu told the BBC that she was not surprised by the test results, partly because Zambia’s parliament had initially continued holding sittings despite the rise in coronavirus numbers.“I guess one saw it coming given the laissez-faire attitude we have in Zambia towards the health guidelines, and seeing that at parliament we had continued meeting in person when we should have carried on business from our homes via virtual systems,” she said.

“The lack of adhering to guidelines, the politicisation of issues and lack of leadership at critical time has fuelled the surge in the of Covid-19 in Zambia.”

She encouraged people with already existing health conditions to adhere to medication in the era of the coronavirus.

Ms Zulu bemoaned Zambia’s slow response to Covid-19.

Zambia has to date reported 4,481 coronavirus cases since March and 139 deaths.