ZIMBABWE'S male ministers will all undergo circumcision as part of a campaign to prevent the spread of HIV, the deputy prime minister has been quoted as saying.

Research indicates male circumcisions can help prevent infections of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

According to Thokozani Khupe, quoted in the state-run Sunday Mail newspaper yesterday, all men in the 150-member parliament and all male councillors in urban and rural councils should also undergo the minor operation.

"All the ministers should go for the exercise if our aims of reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS are to be translated into reality. As leaders in government, we should lead by example," she said.

Zimbabwe is one of 13 countries in East and Southern Africa participating in a $US2.5 billion ($2.4 billion) program to circumcise 38 million men - 80 per cent of the male population under 49 years old - over the next 15 years.