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Gundamiti works, insists researcher
Bertha Shoko, The Standard (Zimbabwe)
August 12, 2007

THERE was controversy created by renewed claims that a herbal concoction, Gundamiti, can reduce the viral load (among other things) in an HIV positive person by more than 90% after two months of use. Standardhealth last week decided to follow lead researcher on Gundamiti, Dr Peter Mashava to his laboratory at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) campus for a comprehensive discussion.

Dr Mashava is a senior lecturer in Chemistry at the UZ.

Two weeks ago, we featured a discussion forum organised by SAfAIDS where scientists attacked Mashava's research and findings. They said the research has not been properly and scientifically conducted.

In this Q&A session, Mashava defends his research . . .

Bertha Shoko (BS): Gundamiti has in the past weeks definitely stirred a lot of controversy. Please tell us what made you temporarily abandon the lecture room and start this research to come up with a herbal concoction that is alleged to stop the progression of HIV antibodies in an infected person's body.

Dr Peter Mashava (PM): This all started as far back as 1992. I just felt something deep inside me telling me that I must play a part in ending all this suffering (HIV and Aids). I then approached the University of Zimbabwe Chancellor and asked him for permission to do this research on campus.

We did not have enough sponsorship to look for premises elsewhere. So the university agreed to accommodate us.

BS: Other than the need to help humankind, what exactly pushed you to want to make a difference? At the discussion forum two weeks ago I heard you say that while you were visiting in United States you came across some scientists who were doing research on various plants and how they react to cancer cells. Then you decided to also test how these plants reacted to the HIV?

PM: Yes that is how it all started. We had 600 different plant species, which I tested and found that they reacted very well to HIV and decided there and then that I would continue research with these three plants. As soon as I got back home and with the help of botanists I looked for these same plants and continued with the research and the results were amazing!

BS: What plants are these and what did you find out about them?

PM: We discovered that these plants, especially two of them, had the ability to stop the replication of HIV in the body. These plants could protect the cell from being engulfed or destroyed by HIV and to us this was the most important thing:preventing HIV from destroying the T-cells (white blood cells) in the body. That is why I say what we found was amazing. We don't know exactly what these plants do in the body but all we knew is that they stopped the HIV virus from multiplying and we thought to ourselves: this is what we have been looking for!

BS: Yes, I suppose this was very exciting but how about the accusations from scientists that your research is not above board and that until your Gundamiti has been thoroughly proven to work, you must stop selling and manufacturing the drug? Also the names of the plants, you still haven't answered me.

PM: That is totally unacceptable - that we should sit and wait and watch people dying because scientists think that my work is not above board? I have said that in this research I have absolutely nothing to hide and will be willing to work with anyone who has the resources to sponsor me to redo the research on a large scale, with more people. But as for now I am saving lives. We have not heard one single complaint from anyone who has used our product.

There is no liver or kidney damage, as in the prolonged use of Antiretroviral Drugs and I am convinced that Gundamiti works. We will give it to anyone who wants it. We are not forcing anyone. The problem is, like I said last week, we are used to accepting medical breakthroughs from the developed world. Nekuti ndiDr Mashava, nhasi zvaipa? (Today, because it's Dr Mashava, it's no good?) As for the names of the plants I cannot tell you that otherwise you will find Gundamiti in every street corner after this article comes out.

BS: In what form is Gundamiti found?

PM: In capsule form and it costs $1 million for a month's supply. This is way cheaper than most medications that are being used in HIV management and this is our point; we want to offer an alternative to many people who cannot afford some of these medicines.

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