Sex workers want fairness

As people in various sectors of the economy continue to demand a share of the national development cake, there is one group that is never mentioned in Parliament, namely commercial sex workers. But, as THOMAS KACHERE and JARSON MALOWA write, days when they were on mute could be over soon.

There is something special with the month of July in Malawi, at least from July 20 2011, when Malawians took to the streets to demand an end to impunity and, unfortunately, some lost their lives.

Since then, Malawians in some parts of the country, notably Mzuzu City in the Northern Region, converge every year to remember those that lost their lives.

From July 2011, there have been at least two more public demonstrations that attracted media headlines.

However, July 2023 may just surpass them all, as there have been over two public demonstrations already— this time, led by religious leaders, who do not want the Malawi Government to pass laws that decriminalise same sex marriage.

This is happening at a time minority groups, notably transgender people, want to be let off the hook of the law, which currently criminalises same sex marriage.

However, Malawians could be surprised when, according to some commercial sex workers, women who are members of the trade will go to the streets to demand equality, fairness and the State’s protection.

One of the commercial sex workers, who preferred to be called Fayyi, said they have kept quiet for a long time, despite suffering at the hands of law enforcers.

“Often, law enforcers arrest us and demand that ‘udzipulumutse wekha’ [pay something to us to buy your freedom]. Some commercial sex workers have ended up sleeping with the law enforcers just to buy their freedom, which is counter-productive.

“We will go to the streets this July and, like those who are marching against same sex marriages, make our voice heard,” she said.

Another member of the trade, who referred to herself as Big Mammie, said the government excludes them from public programmes.

“I have four children, of course belonging to four different fathers, I have to feed and educate. However, what I get from sex work is not enough, considering that, sometimes, some police officers also demand their share.

“I would, therefore, like to ask the government to consider incorporating us in, say, Affordable Inputs Programme, Public Works Programme, Social Cash Transfer Programme and other initiatives,” she said.

At Matawale in Zomba, commercial sex worker Suz said she is tired of being overlooked in government policies.

“During the budget meeting of Parliament, no one mentioned commercial sex workers and, yet, some of the people who overlook us benefit from our services. We demand inclusion. Otherwise, we really want to organise our own demonstration this month of July and we will do so. We are preparing letters to submit to the authorities in cities such as Zomba, Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu. I think July is a proper month for demonstrations. People should stop looking down upon us,” she said.

However, claims that commercial sex workers are shunned may not be entirely true as, just on Wednesday this week, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Isha Mambo Adams and other lawmakers visited commercial sex workers in Blantyre.

The other lawmakers are Local Government, Unity and Culture Deputy Minister Owen Chomanika, Nedi Poya and Chifundo Makande.

Led by People Saving Girls at Risk (PSGR), Adams and other members of Parliament learned, first-hand, about how women in that trade are faring in the country.

During the tour, which involved visiting commercial sex workers in bars of Ndirande Township, Adams urged State and non-State actors to incorporate commercial sex workers in their programmes.

“Organisations like PSGR are doing a great job in supporting these women and, from what I have seen in Ndirande, the country needs to do more.

“Doing more means imparting skills in these women so that, when they embark on businesses, they can abandon commercial sex work and contribute fully to national socio-economic development efforts,” she said.

Adams added that, when State and non-State actors give the women starter-packs, they can generate income and support their families, not through commercial sex work but business and other legitimate forms of earning income.

“Capacity building is the only way towards helping them,” the second deputy speaker said.

PSGR Executive Director Caleb Ng’ombo concurred with her.

“Women who are into commercial sex work face a lot of challenges. It is only through support that they can uplift their lives.

“Mind you, some of these women and girls withdrew from different forms of sexual violence. These people are highly traumatised and we need to make huge investments, in terms of repairing psychological damage they have suffered in the course of doing their work,” Ng’ombo said.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Machler, who is Coalition for the Abolition of Prostitution (CAP) Executive Director, has said women who are into commercial sex work are facing myriad challenges in the country.

“As such, they need everyone’s support. On our part, we will continue to support them,” Machler said.

The members of Parliament also attended the graduation ceremony of 16 women and girls who completed lessons in tailoring and hair dressing under Exit Programme courtesy of PSGR.

On his part, Chomanika encouraged women to venture into businesses that would help them alleviate poverty.

CAP International is a coalition made of 35 grassroot and survivor-led organisations that operate in 28 countries. In 2022, CAP members supported nearly 18,000 women who are doing commercial sex work.

In Blantyre, maybe the women are served for now.

In Zomba, however, they maintain that solutions to their problems are on the streets, where they plan to march to.