Zimbabwe’s crippling economic crisis has meant that more women in the capital, Harare, are selling se_x with prices tumbling as low as the cost of half a loaf of bread. This comes as more Zimbabwean women are working as se_x workers following the difficult years of deflation and austerity. Some women just do it for a small meal, they need to eat to survive, a survey carried by the Weekend Post this week showed. Many se_x workers in the Avenues area said there were now few clients, especially midmonth.
During that period, they even take a dollar for a session commonly known as “short time” or sometimes even a 50 cent bond coin. While prostitution is illegal in Zimbabwe, there is apparent official indifference, and with the fall in wages and rising unemployment, the industry has been growing rapidly. “We are in a big trouble, compared to the previous years of the inclusive government. We now cashin between $10 and $20 per night,” said one se_x worker who declined to be named
“However, some days you fail to get even one client for the whole night,” she added. A number of se_x workers interviewed said they were pushed into the oldest profession because of the current economic hardships. “I graduated with a Diploma in Marketing but I failed to get a job and all my parents passed away. I decided to go on the streets in order to get money for rentals, food and pay school fees for my young brother who is staying in Guruve,” said a 25yearold street savvy hooker.
Epworth se_x workers also said they were contemplating quitting citing meagre earnings, but had no choice. Adeline Pauro, a se_x worker, told the Weekend Post that prostitution was not an easy trade. “Failure of marriages, abuse, rape and some being born HIVpositive are the main causes of prostitution. I did not volunteer or apply for this ‘job’ but there are situations whereby you want to revenge, earn a living and pay rentals,” she said.