ZIMBABWE: France throws Mugabe HIV/AIDS life-line

JOHANNESBURG, 15 Feb 2005 (PLUSNEWS) - France this week announced its continued support to Zimbabwe for fighting HIV/AIDS, despite the country's soured relations with western nations, particularly the US and the UK.

The controversial land reform programme launched by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in 2000 led to unofficial sanctions and poor donor aid.

However, the French ambassador to Zimbabwe, Michel Raimbaud, was quoted by a local newspaper, The Zimbabwe Observer, as saying: "We are working with Zimbabwe to fight the mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS."

With an estimated 24.6 percent of adults HIV-positive, Zimbabwe has one of the highest prevalence rates in the world, and more than 800,000 children orphaned by the pandemic.

[ENDS]