How does HIV/Aids impact on democracy in Southern Africa?

Democracy relies on the existence of strong political institutions, political culture that facilitates and supports citizen participation and a healthy political economy. HIV/Aids threatens to seriously undermine all of these by infecting and killing indispensable parts of society, viz. the economically active population as well as youth and future leaders, who simply cannot be replaced. Children often bear the brunt of the burden as they suffer the marginalisation of poverty before they are even allowed to participate in mainstream political, economic and social processes.
Besides undermining the practical functioning of government and societal institutions and their ability to deliver basic necessities in society, HIV threatens to weaken citizens’ belief that democracy is in their interests. A recent survey (www.afrobarometer.org) indicates that citizens expect their democracies to deliver all basic needs, including functional health care. Increasing inequality threatens citizens’ faith in democracy and therefore their support for democracy. HIV/Aids also places additional burden on already strained health systems and infrastructure systems that are trying to extend access to services in a young democracy.