Teenage sex trade boom in Mutare

The number of teenagers venturing into commercial sex work has been increasing notwithstanding the bad weather caused by current heavy rains spawned by the Cyclone Dineo phenomenon, the youngsters continue to venture out in a desperate bid to make ends meet.


Infrastructure, including houses and bridges, has been swept away in most parts of southern Zimbabwe, but 15-year-old Mitchell*, continues to track to a popular bar in Sakubva high-density suburb, where girls as young as her line up against the bar's precast wall, waiting for clients.

The dilapidated Chimoio Flats, which have outlived their lifespan, along Paulington Road in Sakubva, have a room which has been turned into a brothel by four teenagers, including Mitchell, all aged between 13 and 19.

Prostitution is among the vices that have taken root in Sakubva, itself a filthy ghetto, densely populated and characterised by high rates of crime.

This writer had an opportunity to present himself at the "brothel", where he was mistaken for a client, before the four girls opened up on their activities.

Mitchell said business runs like clockwork, both in the afternoon and at night, adding that a "short time" was pegged at $2.

One of the girls, Shamiso*, said they gave each other an opportunity to use the room upon securing a client.

"When a client comes in, we let him choose a woman of his choice and usually after the two agree, the other three leave the room for some minutes," she said.

In the evening, she said, they would go out in search of clients at nearby night clubs at a place dubbed "Kuchigomba".

Another sex worker, Vanessa*, said during weekends, they often went to Mutare's top night clubs, including Gulliver's, Afriport, Soul City and Mandisa, to lure men.

She said after a "good night's work", they can pocket as much as $45.

"The prices in town (central business district) are much higher as a short time costs around $10 in the top clubs.

So for us to fill our pockets, we must bed up to five men, although during lucky days, we can get as much as $40 for spending a night with a client," Vanessa said.

Research has shown that some teenagers, who turn to sex work, are often victims of physical and emotional abuse.

Mitchell said she was impregnated while doing Form 1, but her older boyfriend refused to take responsibility.

She then left Gweru, where she lived with her parents, and went to stay with her sister in Mutare.

But due to the abuse and neglect at her sister's hands — as the sister and her husband were also struggling to make ends meet — she decided to venture into commercial sex work to earn a living.

She, however, said sometimes she sent her mother money, although she had never told her the source of the money. Her mother looks after her child.

"My mother does not even care how and where I get the money from. If I fail to send her money, she calls or sends threatening messages insisting my child will spend days and nights on an empty stomach," she said.

The teenage sex workers disclosed how some clients take advantage of their youth and desperation, refusing to use protection, thus exposing them to sexually transmitted diseases.

According to a recent report on Young Women in Commercial Sexual Exploitation produced by the Zimbabwe National Council for Welfare of Children, 66,7% of girls that are sexually exploited are school dropouts.

Educationist Olga Ntuli told NewsDay that most young girls, who resort to sex work, get little or no help from their families, hence they run away from home and end up with no choice other than prostitution.

"Schools and families are failing to provide effective guidance and counselling so many young girls turn to prostitution," she said.

"Commercial sex work becomes a means to an end since their education levels are minimal and cannot accord them meaningful employment."

Mitchell said if she had completed her education and secured a job, she would not have gone into sex work.

*Not her real name