Residents of Ward 1 in Bulawayo’s Central Business District (CBD) are voicing concerns over the growing presence of sex workers between 8th and 9th Avenue and along Lobengula Street.
As dusk falls, the area, usually home to citizens working hard during the day, transforms into a hub of open solicitation. This has led to feelings of insecurity among CBD residents, especially at night.
The sex workers are reportedly using explicit language and dressing provocatively, which some residents believe negatively impacts young people.
There is concern that exposure to such behaviour might influence children, leading them to adopt inappropriate language or normalise certain behaviours, potentially affecting their social development.
Speaking to <a href="https://cite.org.zw/we-feel-unsafe-residents-decry-surge-in-sex-work-in-bulawayo-cbd/">CITE Youth Hub</a>, a Ward 1 resident named MaMpofu said that as a mother, it is heartbreaking to see sex workers lingering in her community. She said:
<blockquote>
As a mother, it’s heartbreaking to see sex workers lingering around our residential area, exposing my children to a world they’re not ready for.
It’s not just about morality; it’s about safeguarding their innocence and ensuring they grow up in a safe and healthy environment.
</blockquote>
MaMpofu also said that some local lodges have become hotspots for sex work, which is damaging the reputation of the community.
A college student living in a CBD flat expressed similar concerns, saying they feel unsafe after 6 p.m. because people often mistake them for a sex worker.
Residents are also worried about the young age of some sex workers, fearing this could lead to a rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV in the community.

Pindula News

Residents in Bulawayo's CBD are worried about the increasing number of sex workers in their area. They say these sex workers use explicit language and dress inappropriately, which may influence children and make the area unsafe. Some residents are concerned about the young age of some sex workers and fear it could lead to more STIs and HIV. A mother in the area is upset about the presence of sex workers near her home and worries about her children's innocence. People living in the area feel unsafe, especially at night, because of the sex work happening around them.

Increased Sex Work Activity In Bulawayo’s CBD Unsettles Residents

The Masvingo Magistrates Court has acquitted seven women who were arrested and prosecuted for soliciting for prostitution at Mucheke bus terminus on 17 April 2024.
In its ruling, the court said that prosecutors had failed to bring to court some witnesses, who should have been offering their services to the women allegedly soliciting for sex.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the accused were Tanaka Dzoro (18), Martha Chirume (22), Sharon Mapurisa (21), Fortunate Chauraya (28), Stabile Mpandile (20), Cynthia Chihota (35) and Natasha Siziba (21).
In a statement, the ZLHR said the case exposes the ill-treatment of women as second-class citizens in Zimbabwe.
The 7 women were arrested by the Police who charged them with soliciting for prostitution as defined in section 81 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. Said the ZLHR:
<blockquote>
During trial, which commenced on 22 April at Masvingo Magistrates Court, prosecutors alleged that Dzoro, Chirume, Mapurisa, Chauraya, Mpandile, Chihota and Siziba, were arrested by ZRP officers from Chikato Police Station, who included Sergeant Dube and Constable Dzingira when they were indecently dressed while soliciting for sex.
The prosecutors claimed that the 7 women, who were represented by Collen Maboke of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, had no right to act in the manner that they allegedly did.
However, Masvingo Magistrate Mudzingo on 29 April acquitted Dzoro, Chirume, Mapurisa, Chauraya, Mpandile, Chihota &amp; Siziba at the close of the prosecution case after finding them not guilty of committing the alleged offence of soliciting.
Magistrate Mudzingo ruled that there were several inconsistencies in the testimony of ZRP officers, who testified as state witnesses during trial &amp; that prosecutors had failed to bring to court some witnesses, who should have been offering their services to the women allegedly soliciting for sex.
In intervening to assist the 7 women, ZLHR felt that their arrest by ZRP officers, was discriminatory as it only targeted women because of their gender.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Court Acquits 7 Women Arrested For Prostitution, Highlights Absence Of The Sex Workers' Clients

Two sex workers were robbed and raped at knifepoint by their clients next to Mukuvisi River in Mbare, Harare on Saturday.
Police said the two women hooked up with their two male clients at around 10 PM at Market Square in the CBD.
The men took the sex workers to a secluded place where they raped and robbed them of their cash and cellphones.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson for Harare Province, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the case to <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/sex-workers-raped-robbed/">H-Metro</a> and urged women to avoid loitering at night. He said:
<blockquote>
The two were approached by two unidentified men requesting their services.
They agreed to spend a night at one of the accused’s place of residence in Joburg Lines, Mbare.
The four boarded a commuter omnibus to Mbare and were dropped near Rufaro Stadium.
The two complainants were lured to a secluded place near Mukuvisi River in a maize field behind Gwinyai Primary School.
While in the maize field, one of the accused persons produced an Okapi knife and threatened to kill the complainants if they did not comply with their demands.
The accused persons instructed the complainants to surrender their cellphones and cash.
One of them surrendered a Huawei cellphone and cash amounting to US$70 and another surrendered an Itel cellphone.
The accused persons instructed the complainants to undress, lie on the ground and raped them without protection.
After the act, the accused persons ran away. The complainants were referred to the MSF clinic for medical examination.
</blockquote>
According <a href="https://lawhubzim.org/is-sex-work-prostitution-illegal-in-zimbabwe/">to a report</a>, prostitution is not a crime in Zimbabwe but “what is criminalised is the act of offering one’s services in a public place. A public place can be any road, building, open space or other place of any description to which the public have access.”
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Sex Workers Robbed And Raped

A commercial sex worker was robbed and killed by two clients she had offered sex to in Bikita, Masvingo Province, on Thursday.
Police said that the victim, aged 24, had offered her services to the two men, who after satisfying their appetites, demanded the money they had paid her, assaulted severely her, and took the money.
The woman died the following day as a result of the injuries she suffered during the assault. Police said:
<blockquote>
The ZRP is investigating a murder case where a woman (24) was attacked by two unknown male suspects whom she had offered sex at a charge of US$20 at Makaya Village, Bikita, on 17/11/22.
After the act, the suspects allegedly demanded the money they had paid for the services before severely assaulting the victim with sticks and robbing her of US$20.
The victim succumbed to the injuries sustained on 18/11/22.
</blockquote>
In another murder case, police in Epworth arrested Innocent Zamura (34) for allegedly killing a 22-year-old man after he saw him walking with his ex-wife. Police said in a statement:
<blockquote>
On 17/11/22, ZRP Epworth arrested Innocent Zaruma (34) for a murder case in which he attacked his ex-wife, Talent Simba (23), and Surance Sithole (22) after he had found the two walking together near Mabvazuva Secondary school in Epworth, Harare on 16/11/22.
The suspect stabbed Surance Sithole once in the stomach before dragging his ex-wife to an unknown place, leaving the victim with protruding intestines.
The victim was rushed to Parirenyatwa Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
</blockquote>

Two Men Rob And Kill Sex Worker In Bikita

A sex workers’ lobby group, Katswe Sistahood, has raised alarm over the sexual exploitation thigh vendors are subjected to by some male police officers in Epworth and the streets and bars of Harare.
The rouge police officers demand free and unprotected sex thereby exposing the young women to HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections.
This was revealed by Talent Jumo, the Katswe Sistahood director during an event to mark World AIDS Day. Said Jumo:
<blockquote>Sex workers in Epworth said sometimes there are exploited by the police who say if you do not want me to arrest you, have sex with me.
So at the end of the day, there are also being sexually exploited. In many cases, the police officers do not use condoms as a basis to reduce your fine. So we are appealing to our policy makers to look at that.
There is a need for supportive laws and support to secure their (sex workers) safety and the well being of the key populations.</blockquote>
She added that male police officers usually round-up sex workers loitering in the streets and bars before demanding sex from them as fines.
As a result, many sex workers are forced to go underground and they will not come out for fear of being molested, Jumo said.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/cops-demand-unprotected-sex-as-fine-from-sex-workers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

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