HIV/Aids activist Tanyanyiwa dies

Tanyanyiwa has died.
Ms Tanyanyiwa, who was active in the fight against the disease in Mabvuku, died on Thursday last week.
In his condolence message, CAST executive director, Retired Brigadier-General David Chiweza described the late Ms Tanyanyiwa as a hard-working woman.
“Amai Tanyanyiwa was a little, ordinary woman of great exploits, whose strength and zeal has been an inspiration to many in her community with her work impacting her membership of CAST, her Mabvuku community, churches and the corporate world.
“We have not known a woman who most resembles Jesus characteristics more than her.
“So ordinary was her life, being of little means and a humble appearance, yet her love for the people and her brave commitment to her cause has been outstanding indeed,” he said.
Ms Tanyanyiwa tested HIV positive in 1996.
“She shook our membership with her brave public admission of her HIV status, emboldened many and cheapened the facade of stigma and united both the positive and the negative in a love-with-responsibility relationship.
“In her passion to help end HIV, she visited churches and communities and spread the message of the necessity of HIV testing.
“She spoke at conferences and visited companies to share her HIV status and encouraged people to know their HIV status in order to take on the responsibility of not passing it onto others,” Rtd Brig-Gen Chiweza said.
Ms Tanyanyiwa was born on March 12, 1970 and together with her late husband Abishai who died in 2005, joined CAST in 2001.
She is survived by two children, Grace (19) and Nicholas (17).
Mourners are gathered at number 32 Gurudzi Street, New Mabvuku.