By Prince Njagu
The grueling effect of the biting economy in Zimbabwe is forcing many young girls in the satellite town of Epworth to turn to prostitution for survival.

The girls as young as 12 some of whom are orphaned are reported to be engaging into the world’s oldest profession to counter the poverty rearing its ugly face within their households.

One of the girls only identified as Tanatswa (15) opened up and gave an emotionally personal testimony of how she had been forced into prostitution as a result of the economic hardships.

She said she had assumed the bread winner role in her family since both her parents lost their jobs in the wake of the economic down fall.
“Both my parents lost their jobs and since I am the eldest I have to do something to fund my studies as well as providing assistance for my younger brother and sister.

I no longer see this as prostitution but it has now become a way of life for the vast of the majority of the girls in my area” said Tanatswa.
She added that most girls in the area were assuming two roles; being school girls during the day and prostitutes at night.

Parents in Epworth have now accepted the reality of the economic hardships being faced in the country and no longer guide the little girls on their actions.

“Young girls and their parents have accepted prostitution in their communities and it has become a way of life for these poor families,” said Ndaiziveyi Chifamba; a female journalist based in Harare.

These young girls will be entertaining old man and they fall victims to the transmission of STIs and teenage pregnancy.

“Elderly men do not want to use protection and they pay more for unprotected sex; so in most cases we engaged such clients without protection so as to maximize the profits, “said Tanatswa.

Indulgence in prostitution is regarded as a taboo in our African societies but with the rapid dwindling in our economy; most communities have accepted prostitution as a way of life and it has ascribed a new name; “commercial sex work”

According to a report published by the Zimbabwe Youth Council in conjunction with Unicef; entitled; Eliminating Harmful Social and Cultural Practices Affecting Children: Our Collective Responsibility; it narrates how girls as little as 11 were being forced into prostitution, and this resulted in high rates of unwanted pregnancies and contraction of sexually transmitted diseases.