Prostitutes raise rates in Bulawayo

BULAWAYO prostitutes have said that they are raising costs of their erotic services during the on-coming Zanu PF Annual People's Conference.

The prostitutes who spoke to our correspondent said they are expecting 'brisk business' in the city and 'stiff competition' from their counterparts from other regions.

Farai Choto said, "Every year I get a lot of business from the Zanu PF meetings and other gatherings. But as you know that many guys from outside town will be here, some of the businessmen, we have to raise our rates," she said.

Whereas Precious Makore said she was delighted that Zanu PF has finally decided to bring 'business' at home because she has travelled to Victoria Falls, Mutare and Harare in past years for same.

"I am so happy that they are (Zanu PF) coming to Bulawayo nekuti am tired nokutravella to their gatherings, I know I will make a lot of money," she boastfully said adding that some enterprising retail shops should open 24 hours because there is a lot of 'buying' that will be done round clock.

Low class prostitutes that are found in dingy red light districts usually charge US$5 per session, US$20 – US$30 per night say they will up their charges to US$20 per session and US$ 50 per night.

Veterans who usually charge US$50 per night have increased their costs by a whopping 200 percent meaning that they will charge US$200 per night.

Short time services – as a session is commonly refereed to in the profession – will cost US$50.

However the self-professed whores urged members of the former ruling party to pay and not threaten and or bully them after enjoying the forbidden fruit.

Said one of them who requested anonymity, "The problem we sometimes have with these big guys is that they refuse to pay after sleeping with you and threaten you with all sorts of harm.

"We hope they understand that this is our way of making money and they must respect our profession and pay us. We will give it all, plus bonus for the deserving," she said.

Zanu PF will have its conference at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair from December 6 to December 11, this year.

The conference, which is also a congress in format, is expected to endorse President Robert Mugabe as the party's presidential candidate for the on coming elections.