Zimbabwe: Pastor Nabbed Over Sales of Fake ‘HIV’ Drug
A popular self-acclaimed pastor, Walter Magaya is being convicted by a court in Zimbabwe for falsely claiming he has herbal cure for HIV and Aids.
BBC reports that Magaya had earlier pleaded guilty to contravening the Medicines Control Act of the state by selling unapproved drugs and is fined $700 (£540) by a court in Zimbabwe.
The 35-year-old pastor told his congregation in October that the drug which is named aguma, had enchanted powers to abolish Aids within 14 days, according to reports gathered from Zimbabwe media.
“The herb is 100% organic. Why I said so is because we found out that there are no side effects.” The pastor said.
The suspect’s lawyer, Everson Chatambudza, has told the court that his client believed in the authentic power of the drug to cure but admitted that his client breached the law by distributing the drugs without the approval of the country’s health ministry.
“Magaya attempted to comply with the law by notifying the ministry of the drug, but he did not get any response.
“Magaya had also launched a lipstick last year which he claimed could improve blood pressure.” Chatambudza said.
Zimbabwe’s authorities brand his act as criminal and Magaya’s office was raided by the police.
Magaya’s charge reports state that before the search, he “destroyed some of the exhibits by flushing them in the office toilets and burning containers which were, however, recovered half-burnt. Several aguma sachets and other torn sachets were also recovered in an office bin.”
Zimbabwe is recorded as the sixth highest HIV prevalence state in sub-Saharan Africa and about 1.3 million people are living with HIV, according to United Nations (UN) data compilation in 2016.
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