Child prostitution hits Shangani

Indulging in activities involving sex at a tender age is a taboo especially in African countries.

But with the advent of technology, a lot of teenagers are exposed to a lot of things and they tend to experiment endlessly. Growing up especially in the ghetto suburbs, it was often said that rural teens are well cultured and mannered. Is it that they lack exposure to the Internet or they are well taught?

Surprisingly some rural towns are at their peak with child prostitution courtesy of travellers, villagers and teachers among others who lure girls with money. We do agree that money is the root of all evil.

Well, child prostitution has become a cause of concern in the mining area of Shangani, 66km out of Gweru as young girls have found a new form of employment and are being hired for sex by truck drivers.

While the area which is rich in gold deposits has become a haven for teenage boys it is totally the opposite for the girl child. As one approaches the area, a big green banner welcomes you proclaiming Shangani which is about 66km out of Gweru.

With economic conditions turning unfavourable for school leavers in the area, most boys have either taken a leap of faith and jumped the border to (Egoli) South Africa or tried their fortunes in the nearby gold fields as they illegally mine the precious metal.

Fortunate Ncube (18) said life was just not good for young ladies as the mine is not functioning and people had resorted to different methods of bringing food on the table.

"Life here favours the brave and amankazana are the most affected because mining seems to be a tall order for them as you have to fight with men day and night to safeguard your territory and above all fight against sexual harassment.

Resultantly after school most ladies are lured by these truck drivers who seem to have something to offer to them either money or in kind," said Ncube

A survey conducted by CLS revealed that girls were mainly operating at night when most of the truck drivers would come at the spot for a rest.

One of the few girls who said she was from Gokwe and only identified herself as Lisa opened up to the CLS crew after buying her some drinks. Though she admitted being one of the ladies who move with the truck drivers she said she had joined prostitution because of poverty.

Lisa (17) said she is looking after her two young brothers after the death of both parents three years ago.

"After my mother passed on three years ago when I was form two, I was left with the sole responsibility of looking after my two brothers who are seven and 10 years old respectively. At such a point it seemed like the end of the world to me and l had to quit school and look for a way of looking after my brothers," she said. She explained how the truck haulage drivers abused them as they sometimes paid them peanuts in exchange for sexual favours.

Lisa added that in Shangani many young girls were now much into the trade and were earning a living as they can even afford to open small markets in Bulawayo where they sell clothes and others wares.

"Here in Shangani young people are doing well as they can afford to open small flea markets in Bulawayo or Gweru and in this area which is where l am now staying in a nearby compound at the mine where business is brisk and rentals are affordable," she said. In terms of the fear of contracting STIs Lisa said in most cases she negotiates with the clients and they use condoms but some disagree which then causes chaos.

"If you can't escape you are raped because we don't have a lodge but we sometimes use the bush or bigger girls' houses.

Since they move long distances together and stay for three to four days with a client, chances of constantly using protection are high as the drivers also fear for their health, but that's her greatest fear of getting HIV," explained Lisa.

However some girls have also lost hope in marriage as they view it as nothing but a privilege to stay with a man legally. "I don't think I want to get married because the way I see men now is different. They are not faithful. I have had sex with 11 men this year and they pay about $10 a night of which we look after ourselves.

I can tell you everything provided you don't use my picture in the press," said Shamiso (17), not her real name.

Though Shangani is regarded as a shanty hot town with a small population, security is somehow tense, but the girls said some of the police officers also ask for sexual favours.

Another girl interviewed, Prudence Mkwananzi said a girl child must be principled.

She said churches, elders, schools and parents play a pivotal role in moulding the lifestyle of a girl child especially. "It is true that education is important. Charity begins at home and I am very disheartened by the plight of the girl child now into prostitution. We blame the elders because if you so see a child doing mischievous behaviour and you leave her alone, you haven't developed a child but destroyed the nation," said Prudence.

She said a girl child must learn to be principled, patient and vigilant in all that she does because prostitution is not the way to go but try other better avenues to earn a living. Efforts to get comments from surrounding villagers were fruitless because it seemed they did not support what the teenagers were doing.