Thigh Vending a skill of survival in Zimbabwe

Michael Mashiri and Oscar Jeke

Prostitution has been one of the most looked-down upon professions and ways of life, described by others as the oldest profession. The night life renders one an outcast, especially with families of the one involved, derogatory names and association are particular claws that grab most of the people in the red light business.

The profession does not only affect the person as the society tends to be very harsh even on the children. There are instances children born from a commercial sex worker end up committing suicide due to the way the society label them and see them as a person.

Others have professionalised the craft to fit working hours and days with some even following the normal working day calendar.

Payments for services differ in minutes and hours to spend, with the common short time ranging from US$5 to US$15, depending with the locality, the upmarket ladies charge a higher fee compared to the downtown ladies as the clientele also differs. An all-night engagement ranges from US$30 to US$60, depending also with the locality. However, a night can cost as much as US$100 to US$130, depending on the client and services rendered, as some may have “special requests”.

The regular clients also experience discounts that is those that come for services more often and are known to be “munhu wangu (my person)”.

One sex worker, who identified herself as Babes Tanatswa, said her health was a top priority and she ensures that she always uses protection.

“We are working. The problem with you is, you stereotype us as if we are not individuals fit for the community. You think if a person becomes a prostitute, the person can no longer progress in life or is always a bad influence to people. No!”

“We are professional individuals, for me l get tested regularly and l do not work without a condom, that is a must, if you do not want to condomise then nothing will happen. I have days l do not work in the week, though weekends are a must because that is when we make money,” said Tanatswa.

There are others who have also considered commercial sex work as a way of liberalising themselves from “toxic marriages”. One Andile Wawinawawa, said she ventured into prostitution after she was caught having sex with her husband's best friend.

“Honestly, what made me what l am today, is because l was found having sex with my husband’s best friend at our Chadcombe house years back. l think the story came out in a Kwayedza newspaper those days,” said Wawinawawa.

She said her husband would ensure that she had everything since he was financially stable but their relationship lacked intimacy.

When Wawinawawa was with her husband, there was no child because her husband had insisted on working to better living conditions before starting a family, but she did not see it that way.

She claims there was an element of insatiable desire for sex in her that kept telling her they were supposed to have regular sex, which was against her husband’s schedule.

“I was married to someone with real money and l ate what l liked, but the problem that was that my marriage lacked sex. I am one person who really loved sex and l believed getting married would settle my love for sex.

“He was rarely available as he would come home twice or once a week. Whenever he was available he would spend much of the time with his best friend not me. I became used to his best friend as he would at times come claiming to be manning the house whenever my husband was not around, but that did not end there.

“We started having sex and l really enjoyed it since it was something very rare in my house. Unfortunately, there was this day my husband came without any notice. We were getting used to the activity and on that day, he just barged in the bedroom and saw his best friend and wife naked on the matrimonial bed," she said.

She said that was what led her to their separation and from there, the best friend disappeared and because it was disappointing to hear parents she thought it was not going to be a good idea to go to their house.

“I went to my friend in Glen Norah A who showed me through the ropes of prostitution until now, I am still in the profession. When my parents heard that, they tried calling but to no avail since am now enjoying the field,” she said.

Another sex worker, who identified herself as Mama Flo, said she was a good woman in her area and is known for not condoning bad behaviour in her community said she had managed to enroll her daughter to a tertiary institution while working as a commercial sex worker.

“I am a married woman, l live in Glen Norah. I want to see how these girls in the Avenues do it, but normally l will be in Domboshava.

“When l got married, l had a daughter from another marriage and my husband could not pay fees and buy food for my child. We also have two schoolgoing children together, as a result whenever l go to Domboshava, l masquerade as if l am going to Mozambique to buy clothing bales.

"Normally, l go on Thursdays or Fridays end of week, there is a backyard room that the four of us," she said.

Mama Flo said if one gets a client, they would allow her space, but during night-time they could all use the house together.

“During the day there are others who have clients there, but during the night it’s business as usual,” she said.

She added that she considers the profession in a serious manner because if she gives up, that means her child will no longer go to school.

“She is at HIT and if l ‘resign’ that means no fees, no food for the child. Normally, l make over US$100-140, whenever l return home,” she said.

Mama Flo said no one knows that she goes to Domboshava, but people know her as a cross-border who is into trading.

"I normally return home on Mondays. l make sure I buy a few clothes or shoes at Park Street Flea Market, which l will take with me, claiming that l was not in Zimbabwe," she said.