Thigh Vendors Accept Maize And Beans As Payment For Sevices

 Sex workers at Dema growth point are now accepting buckets of maize and cups of beans as payment from their cash-strapped male clients.

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Speaking to New Zimbabwe  at Dema growth point in Seke rural, sex workers appealed to the government and other organisations for low-interest loans to start income-generating projects to fend for their starving families.

 

“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,” one of the sex workers, who only identified herself as Alice, said.

She said she has three children, one of which is doing Form 4. The child needs ZIMSEC (Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council) registration fees while the other kids are in Grade 7 and Grade One.

“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.

Another sex worker only identified as Mavis said she could have opted to be a house helper but the local people do not pay.

The sex workers, who spoke to the publication were attending a 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.

The NAC District AIDS coordinator for Seke Florence Nyandoro, said apart from teaching  sexual and reproductive rights, they were also training sex workers on financial education.