Prostitutes using juju to get clients

"It's funny how people are now opting to use these herbs for selfish reasons. This is not a new phenomenon, as these herbs and charms have been in existence since time immemorial . . .''

"It's funny how people are now opting to use these herbs for selfish reasons. This is not a new phenomenon, as these herbs and charms have been in existence since time immemorial . . .''

MEN who opt to pay for the services of ladies of the night in Bulawayo and perhaps the country at large, with the perception that it's a no-strings attached affair, better think twice, as it has recently emerged that ladies plying the age-old profession are using juju to lure and retain clients.

According to local traditional healers, prostitutes, perhaps because of the hard economic situation, have resolved to use juju for their business.

In this rather unfashionable business, ladies of the night, are reported to be willing, despite the consequences, to gain an edge.

Apparently, they visit traditional doctors who guarantee them a stream of clients, if not husbands.

A common enchantment or charm, used by these audacious ladies of the night, found in Zimbabwe, Bulawayo is called mudiwa-diwa, which reportedly is used to attract many clients and strengthen the user to beat competition.

"What happens is that once the woman uses these charms, all men that either touch or talk to her are attracted to her and are somehow caught in a spell, which forces him (pleasurably) to want to sleep with her.

"Many have found this the best way to make ends meet. Once the spell is in motion, the men can't come out, until the "deed" is done. The user of the charm is the one who decides that they have had enough and perhaps would have made enough money for the night," said prominent healer Samanyika.

Another traditional healer, who sells his charms at the popular herbal market Emkambo in Makokoba, said the trend was growing, with men also joining the bandwagon seeking herbs that make it easier for them to court women.

"It's funny how people are now opting to use these herbs for selfish reasons. This is not a new phenomenon, as these herbs and charms have been in existence since time immemorial. Our forefathers used these to court our mothers so as to have blissful families. Nowadays, the youths in particular are scrambling for these herbs so as to bed different women. They are not aware of the repercussions," said Baba Ncube.

Some ladies of the night, who spoke on condition of anonymity and operate at the corner of 11th Avenue and George Silundika Street, said it was a survival technique in a "highly competitive business".

"Possessing good looks or being sexy won't help. Men are naturally attracted to beauty and will obviously want to have sex.

"The important thing in this business is retaining a client or having them in numbers. That's why we will go to any extent to find and retain clients," said a lady of the night, seemingly in her early twenties.

One of the ladies opened up about how the charm or incantations worked.

"After having a go with a client, one must not bath, as it washes away the charm. What happens is that you apply the charm all over your body and whoever (men) talks or touches you immediately wants to have sex," said the lady of the night.

Ladies of the night the world over, have been known to use unbecoming and sometimes nefarious methods to make ends meet and this phenomenon comes as no surprise.

Despite having several run-ins with law enforcement agents, they continue hustling on the streets.

There have also been accusations of policemen accepting bribes in the form of cash and "kind" from prostitutes to avoid arrest.