The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has rejected as 'blatantly false' a recent State media report claiming half of its 12,500 students ...
- Advertisement -
The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has rejected as 'blatantly false' a recent State media report claiming half of its 12,500 students are HIV positive and demanded a retraction of the article.
UZ information department head Enock Chihombori said the Herald newspaper’s ‘47% of UZ students HIV positive’ article was “misleading and malicious”.He demanded that the State-owned daily retracts the report and apologise for “the malicious presentation of inaccurate, misleading and unfounded truths regarding UZ students’ health”.
 |
| HIV Testing |
“The (report) is a blatantly false and meant to sensationalise a 100 % untruth,” said Chihombori. “Never at one time did the vice chancellor or any other official give an interview or communicate in whatever matter about the HIV status of the UZ students.”
The newspaper article claimed that UZ vice chancellor Levi Nyagura confirmed the shock revelation which reportedly came from a voluntary HIV testing exercise at the country’s oldest tertiary institution.
“The report does not give sample size in order to the reader the real meaning of the research results,” said Chihombori. In misplaced excitement the headline mistakenly gives currency to a study that was carried out in 2010 and most of the respondents have since completed their studies and left the institution.
“To then say 47% of UZ students are HIV positive as if this is the current scenario is not only mischievous but gutter journalism of the worst kind.
“The report by Ellah Mukwati is a falsehood that must be dismissed with the contempt it deserves. The story constitutes gross irresponsibility on her part and The Herald, and is a most heinous act against UZ community and the public interest at large.” - New Zimbabwe
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
Tinzwei Is A Worth Voyage For Those In Pursuit For Up-To-Date World Events.
Read More At The Online Coronavirus Portal Or Use The 24-Hour Public Hotline:
South Africa: 0800 029 999 or just Send Hie to 0600 123 456 on WhatsApp
No comments