Luchenza registering increase in prostitutes
It is probably one of the smallest councils in the country, but Luchenza Municipality has secured a place among the most thriving centres for commercial sex workers in the country.
Statistics from the Municipal Aids Coordinating Committee (Macc) have shown that the number of prostitutes continue to rise at the centre, beating efforts by government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to fight multiple concurrent partnerships that contribute to the spread of HIV and Aids.
In his address at the International Aids Candlelight Memorial Commemoration held at Luchenza Community Ground on Wednesday, Macc chairperson Philip Nyoni said the number of commercial sex workers in the municipality had jumped from 379 in October 2013 to 641 this year.
This represents a 28 percent increase.
“This is a very worrisome development. But it only shows we [men] are offering them business. Otherwise, they could not be flocking to this place if all men in this municipality were exercising abstinence,” said Nyoni.
Luchenza Municipal Council chairperson Harold Kaliwo attributed the increase to high poverty and illiteracy levels among villagers that live close to the council.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Osman Mkoko of Chonde Mosque has advised the Muslim faithful to make personal choices regarding condom use, saying Qur’an does not have a surrah (verse) that prohibits them (condoms).
“Qur’an doesn’t necessarily stop one from using condoms. Therefore, people, including the Muslim faithful, should be at liberty to make personal choices on whether to use condoms or not,” said Mkoko.
He was, however, quick to clarify that this is not an indication that Muslims have endorsed extramarital affairs.
