The Zimbabwean embassy in South Africa has denied that the country has banned the colour red and the Aids ribbon.
”The red ribbon is an international symbol in the fight against Aids and Zimbabwe fully subscribes to it,” Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Star newspaper reported on Tuesday that Zimbabwe’s state television had directed that the colour red — and so the Aids ribbon — not be shown because it is the symbol of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
The article reported that participants in a weekly Zimbabwean Aids discussion programme had been instructed to remove their red ribbons before filming could begin.
”We were told to take off our red ribbons. When we asked why, we were told it’s because of the colour,” activist Martha Tholanah told ZNS, a news service recently created by Zimbabwean journalists.
Moyo called the article ”cheap and disgusting” and said the author was a liar.
”[The Zimbabwean government] cannot understand how such cheap, politically motivated lies can ever pass for readable news let alone find pride of space in the broadsheet Star newspaper.”
He said the Zimbabwean government will continue to lead the fight against Aids in the country.
”Star journalism rests on the integrity of news gatherers and gatekeepers. Needless to say it loses its shine and lustre once nourished on lies, fabrications, malice and sensation.” — Sapa