Friday, February 7, 2025

Prostitution and the lingering questions

It is 8 o’clock in the evening, my friend and I are coming out of Francistown Spur food outlet after a sumptuous meal; it was a barbecue of marinated pork ribs and fresh chips.
We have also quaffed some refreshing juice. The parking lot is flooded with cars and vans. Some occupants have just alighted and are heading towards Metcourt Lodge, presumably to spend a night there.

Something else is worth watching; some young and middle-aged women in slinky clothes amble about seemingly aimless, but they know what they want. My friend bends over my ear and whispers, “Life is tough man, that’s why they are doing this.”

As more motorists drive into the parking area, these ladies continue dawdling about smiling and waving invitingly to blokes coming out of these cars and vans. Some stop for a moment to exchange pleasantries, then I see both parties nodding, but the sultry looking wantons are left in the parking area. Perhaps, potential customers think it is too early for the real deal to be struck; they will be back later. Night hours continue to wind down; my friend suggests that he drives me to more spots where we can find women in the same industry and observe their behaviour.

The first place is Galo Centre.

Just a few meters before we turn into the mall, we see five women strategically standing right on the pavement at the T-junction. A white Golf 4 driving out of the mall pulls over beside them and they scramble for the door handle. Some give up and one of them jumps in, bangs the door closed and the car zooms away. Deal done!
My friend slows down as we approach the remaining and purposefully waiting ladies. He rolls down the driver’s window and one of them comes closer. He derisively asks,
“How much?”
“150, but negotiable.”
“We will be back; we are just getting some drinks at Hard Rock.”

“If you are lucky, you will find me.”
We park in front of Hard Rock and start talking about these women. It is not the first time I see prostitutes, but tonight I just feel interested in discussing the whole idea of prostitution.

We lean against the car and start speculating on what can be going on in these people’s mind. I tried to come to terms with idea of a woman having sex with multiple men for money and the same night.

How do these women feel? As we were trying so hard to rationalize this kind of behavior, my friend finally says as much as boxers use their bodies to make money, same applies to sex workers. I agree, but quickly reminded him that with sex, there is a lot involved.

My sketchy knowledge about the nature of women is that they treasure their womanhood. Is it not that sleeping with many men damages the essence of womanhood?

Of course, the world is unquestionably so sick that people can do anything no matter how demeaning it is. We may blame them, be angry with them, criticize them, but something must have pushed them to do that. I have heard people mentioning joblessness, low pay, peer pressure or, let me say, just wanting to live a quality life style.
Can one live without money? We use it to buy food and clothes, build houses, pay bills and pay for everything else that we need. The importance of money in our lives has forced many to do evil or indulge in socially unacceptable behavior.

Oh, I almost forgot. Can there be some psychotic explanation to this?
We then move on to another hot spot. As we cruise along the Blue Jacket Street on our way to Pula Bar, we see pockets of women here and there. Kerb crawlers stop and they jump in. As we continue cruising, the discussion also continues.

I then asked, “Would they be doing this, if there were no customers? If there were no men coming to these women to satisfy their sexual desires, then there would be no prostitutes. What is really fascinating about sleeping with a woman who one knows that she has slept with many other men the same night? Well, we finally arrive at Pula Bar. We are caught up in a traffic jam. There is no parking space. Night revelers have come to the bar in droves.

There is frenzied hooting, shouting and loud music from automobiles. After a long wait we get space and park the car.

As we get out of the car, we are greeted by a sight of a pack of seemingly unassuming, but sexually derring-do ladies. They are waiting there for an ever-ready market. They speak English and listening to their accent we can tell that they are Zimbabweans.

We stand nearer, so that we can closely witness and hear how the transaction is done. But it is done so quickly that one cannot even pick the words. At times as the car stops by, the driver just signals with his hand that the woman gets in. She, without hesitating jumps in.

What if he is a killer?
Our next and final stop is Area W bars. We parked behind the club on the western side. Just like in other areas we have been to, we find a contingent of women there, but these ones appear hiding behind the club. A few minutes later, we see them running. There is a man behind them with a sjambok. We are now dozing and have to head back home.
The tape of what I saw is still playing in my mind. I continue to think about the whole idea of selling ones body. There is a mixed bag of feelings that are evoked in me. I feel angry with them. Why are they doing this to themselves?

Though jobs are scarce in our country, are there no other socially acceptable means of earning a living that they can try?

Yes, prostitution may be making quick money, but does that not take away the pride of womanhood? I understand that some of these women have children. Are they not subject for ridicule by other children and the neighbourhood in general?

I fear for the lives of both the buyer and the seller. Do they always use condoms for protection against HIV/AIDS? Are these women not likely to be easy meat for killers? I feel sorry for them. May be the dire economic situation has forced them into this or some other factor. May be they ran out of ideas on how to earn a living and that was the only way.

It really saddens me that our sisters find themselves in such a situation. Are any efforts ever made to mobilize these women for rehabilitation where they can be taught other possible ways of earning a living?

They can also be assisted to get funds from the government’s financial assistance schemes to start businesses. LEA can help with business plans.

Some people say business is all about risk-taking. Prostitution is risky. These women would be no strangers to risk-taking. We have feminist organizations in our country. Correct me if I am wrong, I do not think they are happy to see women earning money this way.

We can try something, may be it will work. To any woman who is in this sleazy practice, I can say God loves you so much. Give your life to Jesus and see how He favours you.
Just come as you are and He will embrace you.

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