A SWHAP meeting was held in Harare on the 14 July 2009 with partner CEOs and Board and Executive members. The key note address was held by The Swedish Ambassador Sten Rylander:

Dear All,

Before I do anything else this morning – let me pay special and glaring tribute to Mai Edith Maziofa, this wonderful and inspiring woman who has been such a strong driving force in setting up and developing the SWHAP programme here in Zimbabwe. The Embassy of Sweden and the International Council of Swedish Industry have been very lucky to have been able to take her onboard for this very important task. Thanks to Edith SWHAP has become a success story that we are all proud of today.  Thank you so much for what you have done up until now and please continue to work with us also in the future.

The HIV pandemic has now co-habited with human beings for over 2 decades and has caused severe socio-economic effects, especially among the hardest hit countries.  In 2008 UNAIDS estimated that close to 40 million people are living with HIV and AIDS worldwide and  that Southern Africa forms the epicentre of the pandemic. The HIV and AIDS pandemic has reversed the economic gains achieved over many years in areas such as health and education and this is so evident in Zimbabwe.

Companies operating in high prevalence  countries, such as Zimbabwe, have not been spared the impact of HIV & AIDS.  The majority of HIV infections are in the economically productive age groups of 15-49, which constitutes the labour force. Workers infected or affected with HIV are often absent from work due to illness or attending to a sick relative in the case of women. A greater part of the income is diverted towards medical bills  and caring for the sick and this shrinks the market for companies producing commodities in such a market.

It is against this background that business has a critical role to play in the fight against the pandemic.  Despite Zimbabwe recording declines in prevalence from a peak  of 33% in the 90’s to current 15,6%, the momentum must continue in order to bring down   rates of new infections to zero, as recently pronounced by the Minister of Health.

The private sector, as part of the multi-sectoral approach led by the National AIDS Council (NAC), can contribute significantly in scaling up efforts to increase universal access to prevention, treatment and care in the workplace. Companies should formulate and implement workplace  HIV and AIDS policies that  ensure that workers have access to comprehensive  care. This should include access to ARV’s, as well as testing and counselling services which are key components of any HIV and AIDS program.

As business leaders, you are the torch bearers and you must be seen to be taking leadership in advocating for and implementing workplace programs within your companies.  Workplace programs will largely be unsuccessful without management buying in. Putting HIV and AIDS on the business agenda will always have positive results on the bottom line. – In addition, companies that take on a leadership role – lending their name and resources – in battling HIV and AIDS at the workplace and in their communities – are always rewarded with a positive public image.

Sweden, through the SWHAP will continue to provide support to the efforts to fight the pandemic through various initiatives. Since 2007, the SWHAP program has seen 8 companies receiving technical and financial support in scaling up HIV and AIDS workplace activities. – Let me add that Sweden has provided strong support to the fight against HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe since the 1990s. Over the years we have funded a number of programmes through organisations like Mashambanzou, Zimbabwe AIDS Network, SAFAIDS and ILO. In order to further coordinate work, donors – in cooperation with government, the private sector and civil society – in 2007 set up the Expanded Support Programme (ESP), which is  a national response to the pandemic. We are one of the major contributors to ESP.

We are also committed to assisting the inclusive government in turning around the economy. Here I refer specifically to our recent efforts  through the launch of a strong capacity building program for the private sector organisations in order to ensure that Zimbabwe has the necessary skills to bring about this economic turnaround . Sweden will also take advantage  of its presidency of the EU to work hard for a normalisation of diplomatic  relations between the EU and Zimbabwe.

I thank you, Tatenda, Siyabonga, Twalumba