News / National
Hookers turn water drains, car parks, roadsides into love nests
09 Apr 2012 at 06:47hrs | Views
HARARE - 30 kilometers from the red lights districts of the Central Business District of Harare lay a sprawling commercial haven for sex workers.
Bhobho Farm is an informal settlement which is a product of the government's clean- up exercise and borders some of the middle and high density suburbs of Harare.
During the day, the place mirrors a normal society of people living in poverty with people pre-occupied by their day to day activities.
Sounds of children playing, women at open market stalls conversing and men breaking granite into quarry welcomes one into this part of the world during the afternoon, but as dawn falls, sex workers and their clients took over as they flock to the popular drinking spot at nearby shopping centres.
Most sex workers said they chose to settle at Bhobho Farm because they could not afford to pay constant rentals in the serviced urban areas and it is relatively away from the nose of the menacing police.
"I can not afford to pay $10- $15 accommodation rentals per month, that is the reason where I live here and the police do not usually patrol in this remote area," said a self confessed sexual worker who only identified herself as Memory.
Unlike in the urban centres where commercial sex workers and their clients are 'rich' enough to hire a lodge or hotel, Bhobho Farm sex workers and 'consumers' of their products have resorted to turn every place in available into a love nest.
Residents who spoke to this reporter expressed concern over sex workers who are turning every secluded area into a love nests under the cover of darkness.
"We have strictly forbidden our children to go out because they are likely to meet people involved in sexual romps at the roadsides and the car parks have proven to be their favourate spots," said Amon Mbuva, a Bhobho Farm resident.
The sex workers who operate from the Gazebo Shopping Centre in the area and the near by Mabvuku and Tafara high density suburbs said the introduction of the multi-currency regime has extended an olive branch to their lives but because of lack of decent accommodation for their occupation 'every where will do'
"I can not bring a 'client' in my shack where my children would be sleeping and the man can not bring me at his home because of his wife, so we just choose a place which provides a bit of privacy and carry out our business," said a sex worker who only identified herself as Ambi.
Used condoms at the roadsides and drenches bear testimony to that.
"Children are inquisitive by nature and we are afraid that our little children will contract diseases because the prostitutes do not dispose off their condoms properly," said a concerned parent.
In his study of the area titled, "Dollarised Economy and Commercial Sex Work: A case study of Commercial Sex work in Bhobho Farm, Harare," anthropologist Abel Kapodogo noted that poverty was the main drive for prostitution at Bhobho Farm.
"The government literally dumped people there after the dreadful clean-up exercise without any means of survival, most women do not have any income generating projects and they are forced into prostitution.
"In my study of the area I noticed that the sex workers were forced by circumstance as others are widows and single mothers and they are sending their children to school through selling sex," said Kapodogo.
Sex workers interviewed said using protection during their encounters was not their choice but the 'client.'
"Unprotected sex is a little bit expensive, we charge almost up to $5 whilst protected sex cost $2 dollars only, so we want money," said Memory.
Harare based medical practitioner Mlungisi Ndebele said the situation in the area is dire and sex workers need to be educated about proper use and disposal of condoms.
"It seems now when many people know enough about all the dangers of casual sexual relationships, however, the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (syphilis, gonorrhea, etc.) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as such as chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, gardnerellez, trichomoniasis, and viral hepatitis B and C â€" do not reduced, and dramatically increase!
Why is this happening? In my opinion, the reason for this is lack of understanding of the danger of casual sex relationships, ignorance of preventive measures and underestimation of timely referrals. Sex workers need to be taught on how to properly use safe sex methods," said Ndebele
A sociologist who lectures at a Harare college, Aaron Mponda, said the influx of prostitution in informal settlements was a result of deep-rooted social problems.
"In Zimbabwe, it is illegal to solicit for sex. Deterrent measures should be put in place to root out the world's oldest profession. If we want to succeed, the government should find other ways of looking after its citizens.
"Even if the government patrols this entire place, they will simply turn to other forms of accommodation.
"In fact, they have started to 'look east' by introducing kombis in the picture," Mponda said
The police have been found wanting in dealing with sex workers in the area. Police are said to be aiding and shielding the prostitutes.
"We no longer fear the police. In fact, we have built a strong relationship with some of them. Some ask for money and others want our services for payment, there are no proper trained police but 'neighborhood police who patrol and guard the area" said Memory.
Bhobho Farm is an informal settlement which is a product of the government's clean- up exercise and borders some of the middle and high density suburbs of Harare.
During the day, the place mirrors a normal society of people living in poverty with people pre-occupied by their day to day activities.
Sounds of children playing, women at open market stalls conversing and men breaking granite into quarry welcomes one into this part of the world during the afternoon, but as dawn falls, sex workers and their clients took over as they flock to the popular drinking spot at nearby shopping centres.
Most sex workers said they chose to settle at Bhobho Farm because they could not afford to pay constant rentals in the serviced urban areas and it is relatively away from the nose of the menacing police.
"I can not afford to pay $10- $15 accommodation rentals per month, that is the reason where I live here and the police do not usually patrol in this remote area," said a self confessed sexual worker who only identified herself as Memory.
Unlike in the urban centres where commercial sex workers and their clients are 'rich' enough to hire a lodge or hotel, Bhobho Farm sex workers and 'consumers' of their products have resorted to turn every place in available into a love nest.
Residents who spoke to this reporter expressed concern over sex workers who are turning every secluded area into a love nests under the cover of darkness.
"We have strictly forbidden our children to go out because they are likely to meet people involved in sexual romps at the roadsides and the car parks have proven to be their favourate spots," said Amon Mbuva, a Bhobho Farm resident.
The sex workers who operate from the Gazebo Shopping Centre in the area and the near by Mabvuku and Tafara high density suburbs said the introduction of the multi-currency regime has extended an olive branch to their lives but because of lack of decent accommodation for their occupation 'every where will do'
"I can not bring a 'client' in my shack where my children would be sleeping and the man can not bring me at his home because of his wife, so we just choose a place which provides a bit of privacy and carry out our business," said a sex worker who only identified herself as Ambi.
Used condoms at the roadsides and drenches bear testimony to that.
"Children are inquisitive by nature and we are afraid that our little children will contract diseases because the prostitutes do not dispose off their condoms properly," said a concerned parent.
In his study of the area titled, "Dollarised Economy and Commercial Sex Work: A case study of Commercial Sex work in Bhobho Farm, Harare," anthropologist Abel Kapodogo noted that poverty was the main drive for prostitution at Bhobho Farm.
"The government literally dumped people there after the dreadful clean-up exercise without any means of survival, most women do not have any income generating projects and they are forced into prostitution.
"In my study of the area I noticed that the sex workers were forced by circumstance as others are widows and single mothers and they are sending their children to school through selling sex," said Kapodogo.
Sex workers interviewed said using protection during their encounters was not their choice but the 'client.'
"Unprotected sex is a little bit expensive, we charge almost up to $5 whilst protected sex cost $2 dollars only, so we want money," said Memory.
Harare based medical practitioner Mlungisi Ndebele said the situation in the area is dire and sex workers need to be educated about proper use and disposal of condoms.
"It seems now when many people know enough about all the dangers of casual sexual relationships, however, the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (syphilis, gonorrhea, etc.) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as such as chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, gardnerellez, trichomoniasis, and viral hepatitis B and C â€" do not reduced, and dramatically increase!
Why is this happening? In my opinion, the reason for this is lack of understanding of the danger of casual sex relationships, ignorance of preventive measures and underestimation of timely referrals. Sex workers need to be taught on how to properly use safe sex methods," said Ndebele
A sociologist who lectures at a Harare college, Aaron Mponda, said the influx of prostitution in informal settlements was a result of deep-rooted social problems.
"In Zimbabwe, it is illegal to solicit for sex. Deterrent measures should be put in place to root out the world's oldest profession. If we want to succeed, the government should find other ways of looking after its citizens.
"Even if the government patrols this entire place, they will simply turn to other forms of accommodation.
"In fact, they have started to 'look east' by introducing kombis in the picture," Mponda said
The police have been found wanting in dealing with sex workers in the area. Police are said to be aiding and shielding the prostitutes.
"We no longer fear the police. In fact, we have built a strong relationship with some of them. Some ask for money and others want our services for payment, there are no proper trained police but 'neighborhood police who patrol and guard the area" said Memory.
Source - izim
