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properly planned for an early retirement in his 30s, Mr Richman Rangwani found himself in an unenviable position.
Working for the force made him a strong character. He attained a karate black belt in 1986 but poor health played havoc on him that he was out of the office for most of the time.

Unfortunately, life took a swing for the worst and he was in and out of hospital for two years. His health further deteriorated and in 1999 he was discharged from his duties.
Being of foreign parentage, his father was originally from Nigeria, Rangwani did not have a place to call home.

His wife was Zimbabwean and this at least brought a sigh of relief as the family packed their bags ready for an unfamiliar territory. Mr Rangwani is married to Phyllis Rumombe who comes from Mhondoro.
He went to see his in-laws and informed them that he intended to relocate to the village. His father-in-law took him to Chief Murambwa, who in turn welcomed him into the village and gave him a piece of land.

He built his home with part of the Z$53 000 he had received as his severance package.
His health further deteriorated but at least he had a place to call home. With the wife pregnant, she went to St Michael’s where she was asked to take an HIV test.

“It never rains but pours, my wife was asked to take an HIV test which came out positive.
“When she came back home, I was not around and she just left a letter saying, ‘I tested positive to HIV, you are also wanted at the hospital. I have left for my parents’ home’,” said Mr Rangwani speaking to journalists at a workshop organised by National Aids Council in Kadoma recently .

Mr Rangwani said this did not deter him, having been a policeman, he first set out for the hospital where he confronted Dr Bughianni on why she had tested his wife without his consent.
He was told that his wife did not need his consent to get tested as it was her right. They offered to also test him but he turned them down. Mr Rangwani left for his home and the following day went to ask his wife to come back home.

She agreed and from there their health took a nosedive.
Then testing HIV positive was like getting a death sentence, thanks to science and medicine, today the scene has changed for the better.
“There were no ARVs, not even cotrimoxazole so I just told myself that I was going to live.

“I heard of Fambidzanai perma-culture and I approached them. They taught me how to grow a lushy herbal garden and that kept us going,” said Rangwani.
“We used garlic, parsley, mint, basil and thyme without any drugs available,” he said.
The baby (seventh) was delivered and the wife’s health kept going down.

Due to their determination to live they pulled through. Mr Rangwani went public about his status in 2003.
He said he received Jesus Christ as his saviour in 2002 after two men who carried Bibles had passed through his homestead speaking of salvation.
“I had great faith that God would see me through, so I asked these two to pray for me. From there, I gave my life to Christ,” he said.

He founded a support group called Simbarashe using the little funds that remained from his severance package.
“In 2003 I started a support group with 16 people from St Michael’s Opportunistic Infections Clinic,” he said.
“It was difficult to get many members because people were secretive of their status, so I sat by the OI clinic watching who was leaving the room.

“I approached anyone I saw leaving the room and first disclosed my status so that they could feel free,” he said.
Mr Rangwani intensified awareness campaigns in the area and in 2004 Chief Murambwa donated a beast to his programme.
Over 200 people were now members and the group kept swelling.

“The EU heard of us in 2007 and they got in touch.
“They wanted to give us some cash but I was an ex-policeman not an accountant and could not handle the funds. I asked them to build us a centre, which they did.
“Today that is the Simbarashe Centre in Mhondoro Ngezi,” he said.

By end of 2007 Simbarashe had trained 80 home caregivers and there was no looking back.
Mr Rangwani acknowledges receiving support from the then Deputy Minister of Health Dr Edwin Muguti and the area’s Member of Parliament, Mr Bright Matonga.
“Our local MP, Mr Bright Matonga was of great help.

“Many more people came out in the open because they saw that few people died from our group.
“We just had the spirit to live. So when St Michael’s was given support to have the first 200 people on ARVs, they were all our members.
“People saw the benefits because then we started to get ARVs,” said the talkative Mr Rangwani.

Today, Simbarashe has 10 national programmes.
Their membership stands at 3 928. He is determined to change the river’s flow, and true he has. Rangwani said the biggest challenge was of children exposed to HIV.
“As parents living positively, some of the children showed signs of being infected.

“I encouraged that we get all our children tested. This was organised by St Michael’s Hospital and 728 children were tested. Of these 321 tested HIV positive,” he said.
Mr Rangwani wants people to take note that these were children born before the intervention of ART. Today the challenge that Simbarashe faces is some of the children who tested HIV positive have not commenced ARVs.

“CD4 counts need to done and these require US$3.
“Villagers do not have this kind of money so we are appealing to anyone able to help to come to the rescue of the children,” said Mr Rangwani.
Mr Rangwani was elected into the Country Co-ordinating Merchanism (CCM) which is the highest decision making body in the country. The CCM co-ordinates and sends proposals to the Global Fund on the country’s

needs.
The CCM is made up of 20 members. Two people living positively represent PLWHIV and Mr Rangwani is one of them.
The Mhondoro community is now receptive and open so much that HIV is no longer an issue spoken of behind closed doors.

Simbarashe was adjudicated the best support group in the country as they received no funding from any donors but only community commitment. The NAC is looking at Simbarashe project. Today, the group runs a flourishing field of greens and rears chickens. Mr Rangwani says there is no looking back.

HIV is everyone’s responsibility, those negative must remain so, those affected must get access to medication.
Mr Rangwani (45) wears another cap. He is now a Pastor with Zaoga and believes his getting HIV positive had a purpose.

He saved hundreds of lives in Mhondoro by disclosing his status and raising awareness.
In his community, stigma and discrimination are a thing of the past.

He is a proud father of eight, the youngest being only a month old. Thanks to the prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child (PMTCT).
He said people may think he is crazy, but he trusts in the Lord.

All the adult members are on ART and Mr Rangwani strives to have all the children in need of ARVs get the US$3 which is stopping them from accessing the life saving drugs.
Till then God bless.
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