Veteran statesmen in Africa's sub-Sahara region are expected to gather in Zambia next week to discuss how to combat the deadly HIV/AIDS pandemic ravaging the continent, an official said Friday.
The meeting will bring together more than 10 former leaders in sub-Saharan Africa, including former South African President Nelson Mandela and his Mozambican counter-part Joaquim Chissano.The former secretary general of the African Union, Salim Ahmed Salim, will also attend the meeting, at Zambia's tourist resort town of Livingstone, between November 21 and 23.
"The purpose is to work with former African leaders in building a stronger regional voice and action-oriented programme aimed at defeating HIV and AIDS", said Munyaradzi Hwengwere, coordinator of the meeting.
The meeting is sponsored by the aid agency Oxfam and organised by AIDSCOM, an organisation founded by Zambia's first president Kenneth Kaunda who active in the fight against AIDS.
UNAIDS put HIV/AIDS sufferers in the region, which makes just over 10% of the world's population, at 25.8 million.
Source-AFP
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