Prostitutes in Zimbabwe ( in Dema Growth Point ) are according to reports now accepting buckets of maize and cups of beans as payment from their bankrupt male clients.
Some of the sex workers who spoke anonymous have pleaded to the government and other organisations for low-interest loans to start income-generating projects to fend for their starving families.
Another sex worker amongst them who identified herself as Alice, said;
Gone are the days when we used to charge US$5 for the whole night. These days even one dollar is accepted, so that you are able to buy vegetables and tomatoes and cook something for your starving children.”
Alice Revealed that she has three children, one of which is in Form 4. and needs to write the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) but no registration fee, while the other kids are in Grade 7 and Grade One respectively.
She added;
“I now even accept a bucket of maize or cups of dried beans as payment for sex services. At least I am assured that my kids will have porridge.”
While another sex worker identified as Mavis said she could have chosen to be a house helper if the pay is good, but lamented the locals don’t pay.
The sex workers who spoke were all attendees at the Key Affected Populations (KAP) workshop meant to find ways of reducing HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The seminar was convened by the National Aids Council (NAC) at Dema Growth Point Zimbabwe.