Commercial sex workers in Serenje have continued pressing Serenje District Commissioner, Charles Mwelwa, demanding empowerment funds so that they engage in income generation activities.
A team which was led by Marxian Musonda, 18, Sharon Mwanza 18 and Petronella kunda, 31, stormed Mr Mwelwa’s office over the weekend demanding funds, including the Youth Empowerment Fund, to venture into viable business like other clubs do.
They said there is no justification for government to empower only ex-prisoners who are getting KR1000 from the Department Social Welfare to start their business of their choice, saying sex workers have also been condemned by society and should not be segregated if they want to access government funds as Zambians.
They suggested that government should also extend to them the system that they have used to empower ex-prisoners so that they venture into clean business and stop patronizing bars.
“It is not an easy thing to access money from youth empowerment fund because it has a process of filling in forms, but all we need is to have money which is ready to start business and sustain our children since some of us are double orphans and HIV-AIDS can be reduced on the streets,” they said.
And Mr Mwelwa advised the sex workers that everything has a channel to follow hence the need for them not to lose hope but follow procedure and keep on praying to almighty God until they are answered.
Mr Mwelwa, however, promised to get back to them after consulting other relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, District Social Welfare Officer, Joyce Mukuka, has called on the Sex Workers Association of Zambia in Lusaka to hear to the cry of Serenje sex workers since they have come in open and help them with financial assistance.
And district AIDS Coordinator, Margret Mwamba, thanked the sex workers for their courage and coming in the open to seek assistance from the District Commissioner, saying most of them they feel shy.
Rev Mwamba also called on well-wishers and other organizations to assist the girls so that they could also start a new life instead of keeping on spreading HIV and AIDS to innocent people.
ZANIS
I always want to ask but some how forget…, is prostitution legal in Zambia?
@Sana, prostitution is illegal in Zambia.
Bana fyasasa kwilala. Pano na siga siga taikobombapo kwisa likoso pabwelu. Mwandi uleta pansaka tonaula. See you ku chibwela Mushi.
@ capital yamuchushi maka nomba ama alipwile ba DC help the people.
Yangu! Imilandu iyo. I second that motion!
arrest those chaps..why should you let them go freely..?
I love their courage and openness.
Please help then become responsible and productive citizens
Give grants to Prostitutes who want to reform, it is a good use of funds that funding these bye-elections. I know Serenje, iliko bad. Help them
Proposal fully supported. If the PF can support political prostitutes with vehicles, free fuel, free drivers, free allowances, what is wrong with suporting these ladies of the night.
Thankx Rocky 88, i asked because it is not a secret that there are prostitutes at every corner in lusaka and other towns, even when we won Africa cup they asked the lads to take them on for free, why then is the government looking on and doing nothing about it? My suggestion is, make it a criminal case to buy sex, punish the buyer, take them to jail, then you are home and dry.That said, i watched a very interesting documentary about the oldest job in the world made by some dutch organisation against women traffiking, the legalisation of prostitution in Holland in the name of “human rights”, i must say it was heart breaking to learn the devastating facts of how poor nations like Romania were mothers and family members sell under age girls to rich nations like Holland and Switzerland etc.
For once something worth spending tax payers money on. I hope the DC will quickly address this matter in a positive way. Those ladies need help and they genuinely need it. Just make sure we put checks and balances to avoid them misusing the funds by buy “wrong clothes” to boost their current lifestyle! @blacky they are innocent people seeking help not arrest!
AS your cabinet Minis..you Patrons frontier supporters.
Age 18 years, are not suppose to be in school? am 48 years studying.
Ex-prison…..are ex sex worker. what assurance is there that once given KB 1000, you wont sale condoms and offer free demos(sex) at night. why you can not see empowerment is because you always hide it in your hearts. As your minis plse go back to school after you still run your business. Teachers and police recruit will be your customers. kill two birds with one stone………
You also ba xxx associations !!!!!!! go and work…..prostitution is very addictive.
You Muvi TV R4M…..what’s happening with those Pros.. do you follow them.
How do we determine if they are genuine prostitutes or not. Bwana Commissioner should devise ways and means of how to ascertain that they are sex workers. Otherwise pa Zed he will be crooked.
What more empoweerment do they want? They already have bottom power.Let them use it smartly.
Go and join R4M at Muvi TV Master Chimbala is waiting for people like you
No discrimination, let them be given the monies as long as they promise to return it when their business start making profits
mwebo bamaxina kalimeni chaba beans and nakadolo. you will make more money than begging and standing in the dusty streets of serenje. there is big market for kadolo in Botswana. Ba DC spearhead formation of Tasinta clubs, but don’t become a client in the night.
Ee zilemesa different sizes, please give them something to do, at least they have come out in open help them