Shining a Light on Swaziland Struggles

Swaziland has now surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest HIV /AIDS infection rate in the world.

Almost every other person is infected by the disease (42% compared with 3.9% in 1992.)

A national survey by the health ministry predicts that a quarter of Swaziland's population are predicted to die from the disease by 2010 and already 60,000 children have lost either one or both parents to the disease.

This is having a huge impact on all of the businesses that I visit, and it is evident that whatever project we run here, there must be an HIV/AIDS component.

I met with an organisation called Swazi Candles yesterday - their philosophy is to create unique handmade candles in a happy working environment and they certainly pull this off. As you walk in the door you can hear singing and giggling.

It is here that I met an unbelievably inspirational lady - Tholiwe Tsela.

Tholiwe has been a candle maker for Swazi Candles for the last 16 years. She proudly tells me that she is one of the best and I can quite believe it. She is radiating happiness, enthusiasm and a passion for life itself.

However this hasn't always been the case for Tholiwe, three years ago she got extremely sick and was encouraged by Tony and Bernard, her bosses, to be tested for HIV.

She refused, opting like many people in Swaziland to ignore the problem rather than have to accept the truth. However as her health continued to deteriorate she was left with no other choice.

Tholiwe went to the doctors, where it was confirmed that she was HIV positive. With the shock of this news she decided to try and take her own life. Luckily, once again her bosses stepped in to save her.

She thought that her life was over. However her workmates helped her overcome the stigma she initially attached to the disease.

Tholiwe's life has never been easy. She lost her mother at a young age and was forced to bring up her younger brothers and sister alone. Now at 42, Tholiwe has eight of her own children to look after (Pono, Prince, Maxwell, Pttilile, Precious, Priscilla, Nofesile and Junior, aged between three and 24.) and is a single mum (she left her abusive husband when her diagnosis confirmed that he had been sleeping around.)

Now the fact that Tholiwe has gotten through this experience, held down a full time job and is looking after eight children on her on is a huge achievement in itself. But it is still not the full story.

Tholiwe has turned her life around. She changed her diet, goes for three-monthly visits to the doctors, and has had her youngest children tested (thankfully the results came back clear.)

She also decided that she wants to make a difference to others' lives as her bosses did with her.
Instead of going down the usual path of joining a local HIV/AIDS charity, Tholiwe has gone literally where no woman has gone before.

She is currently campaigning to be the first ever female Swaziland political constituency head lady (similar to our MPs). Swaziland have never has a female MP and this would be a massive step forward in gender equality for the country.

Tholiwe tells me: "I know that I can make it, I have won the first set of elections in my district and now i am going for constituency level. It is important for me to do this, for my family and community.

"I need to tell the whole country that I am HIV positive and with the right help everyone can get tested and life a healthy life again. So many of us are in denial but this does not answer the problem.

"It is only women that really understand the needs of a family and especially one where family members are positive.

"The ARV (anti retro viral) drugs are free but without food people are still dying.

"What you are doing by strengthening businesses like Swazi Candles is giving people an opportunity to earn an income and buy food - this will keep the people of Swaziland healthy."

This amazing lady stood and faced her problem head on and more than that she is willing to help thousands of other do the same.

She is an inspiration to her community and I pray that she is successful in becoming the first female MP and changing so many more lives. If anyone can break down the gender barriers, the sigma of HIV/AIDS and make a real difference - it is Tholiwe.

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