Zomba sex workers complain of harassment
Sex workers in Zomba say the fight against the spread of HIV can be won in the district if police officers and health workers refrain from sexually abusing them.
A sex worker, Emmie Billy from Jali, made the remarks on Wednesday in the district during a meeting organised by Action Hope Malawi aimed at discussing challenges of sex workers.
She complained that when they go to police to seek justice, most officers exchange justice for sex.
Billy recalled a situation where a police officer arrested her at night and demanded K7 000 as well as sex for her to be freed.
“I gave in to his demands because all I wanted was liberty to get back home,” she narrated.
Billy said some health workers bring anti-retrovirals (ARVs) in their hotspots for sale or exchange them for sex.
But Zomba Police Station spokesperson Patricia Sipiliano said the station has not received any evidence- based report from the sex workers that they have been sexually abused by men in uniform.
Zomba district ART coordinator Pepsy Nangwale pledged that her office will investigate the matter and bring to book all the perpetrators.
Action Hope Malawi project officer Paul Sauchi urged police and health workers to interact with sex workers as citizens of the country that have rights to benefit from all human rights enshrined in the country’s Constitution. n
