Tongai Moyo undergoes public HIV test

By Esther Gomo 

Top Zimbabwean singer Tongai Moyo has been forced to undergo a public HIV test following persistent rumours about his health. State owned newspaper The Sunday Mail is reported to have challenged the singer to undergo the test in the company of their reporters. Moyo tested negative for the HIV virus that causes AIDS. 

The Samanyemba star has always maintained he is non-Hodgkin’s limphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells. 

“I have been asked several leading questions about my HIV status by journalists, family members, relatives, friends and fans, and I just decided that even though I had decided to keep my status secret, I should just go public to quell the rumours.” 

“Stigmatisation is something that no-one can really tolerate. I have known for a long time that I am HIV negative, but because of the misconception that people have about my health, I decided it could not go on like that, which is why you and your cameras are here for the good of everyone.” 

Moyo was taken to a New Start Centre in Harare where a journalist from the Sunday Mail newspaper said he “witnessed the drawing of blood from the artist, and was there when the results were unveiled.” 

“The small white piece of paper attached to a bigger blue one revealed that the artist is negative,” the reporter said, adding that he and his photographer “looked at the results before the artist himself could check them out.” 

Moyo underwent a sudden loss of weight and this immediately triggered rumours that he was HIV positive. But he explaind that the weight loss is a result of tough cancer treatment regime. 

“I hope I have taught some people a lesson on trust and, more importantly, inspired a lot of people out there to go and get tested. I’m not saying anyone should go public with their results but just that they should know their status, it is very beneficial in the long run.” 

“I might still have cancer, but my doctors are very optimistic and believe that it may just have been completely wiped off from my system, but if not then I have to undergo radio therapy to remove whatever elements that may be left in my body,” he added.

[newsletter]