Sex workers demand stands

Commercial sex workers, vendors, and churches in the Karoi farming town are advocating for residential stands as a fundamental human right. They claim they have been excluded from residential housing stand allocation programs.
During an engagement meeting organized by the Pastors Fraternity, Hurungwe Community Radio Initiative, and Media Centre, representatives from these groups expressed their concerns. Several meetings were held in Hurungwe and Karoi town to hold office bearers accountable to the citizens.
Doreen Mapfungautsi, a representative of commercial sex workers, appealed to the Karoi Town Council to consider sex workers for affordable housing stands. She argued that these individuals need affordable housing so they can build their own homes and move out of cramped living conditions.

Florence Chakabvapasi, the president of the Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations, pointed out that vendors face challenges from the local authority, as they lack designated areas to sell their goods. She requested the inclusion of vendors in residential stand allocations, emphasizing that shelter is a human right.

A preacher named Skimbuzo Sibanda raised concerns about the high prices of church stands, and he appealed to the council to charge reasonable fees to churches that are not engaged in commercial activities.

The Karoi Town Council chairperson, Kudakwashe Chigumo, assured participants that stand allocations would be conducted fairly in the future, and the council was working on making affordable serviced housing stands available.

Joel Zilala, board chairman of the Hurungwe Community Radio Initiative, emphasized the importance of ongoing community engagement for the development of the community.

In 2017, the auditor general exposed the Karoi town housing department as disorganized and prone to corruption.