By Rumbidzai Zijena

Sex workers in Zimbabwe will now be conducting their business armed with pepper spray to protect themselves against abusive clients.

The pepper spray initiative, sponsored by Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAFAIDS) will see sex workers across the country receiving the dangerous liquid.

Pepper spray, also known as OC spray (from oleoresin capsicum), OC gas, and capsicum spray, is a lachrymatory agent (a chemical compound that irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain, and temporary blindness) used for self-defense.

“The initiative started after a Mutare incident where a sex worker was beaten to death by a client. Often, sex workers face abuse at the hands of their clients. The contribution is an empowerment mechanism to ensure that sex workers defend themselves against abuse,” said Tariro Chikumbirike, SAFAIDS Head of Communications.

Domestic violence against women has always been a concern in the African society worse still for sex workers as it is deemed an unacceptable practice. This can be said to be an effort of goodwill by SAFAIDS but it may raise the rate of crime and aggravate the domestic violence situation resulting in more deaths.

A number of sex workers, approximately twenty, from the Ngezi, Mhondoro area underwent a training program sponsored by SAFAIDS. The program was aimed at reducing opportunistic infections transmission, unwanted pregnancies as well as gender based violence.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 This initiative will go along way in reducing abuse of sex workers by clients,” said Chikumbirike.

She added that Mhondoro was a pilot program where more than twenty women benefitted.

“We are looking at expanding the empowerment and life skills training amongst sex workers in Zimbabwe. The exercise is aimed at ensuring that sex workers value their bodies and are protected from new HIV infections,” added Chikumbirike.

A sex worker, operating from the Avenues area of Harare, who identified herself as Chido said, “We are very grateful for what SAFAIDS is doing for us, although I am not yet a recipient of these pepper sprays. It shows that society is slowly changing and may be ready to fully accept our practice and us in the near future. Things in Zimbabwe are really tough and this is our means of survival yet you see some clients trying to rip us off, we really need some kind of defense”.