SEX WORKERS ALSO HOPING TO CASH IN ON SADC MEET

MBABANE – As all focus shifts to the SADC Summit for Heads of State and government this week, local sex workers are also looking into having a piece of the pie.

The sex workers, also known as the ladies of the night, say they are expecting to strike it rich and cannot wait for the start of this big event.
Even though commercial sex work remains legally banned in the country, the business continues to thrive among some local women, especially along the Mbabane – Manzini corridors.

A number of local hotels and guest houses are already fully booked with tourists from the SADC region. The sex workers are hoping to get as many customers as they can during this period.
In an interview on Friday night, Rose*, a popular sex worker in Ezulwini, said she was personally expecting to make a killing during this period. “I’m obviously looking forward to a business boom during the period of the meeting (summit). I hear a lot of people will be coming here so the obvious expectation is that there will be tourists who might need our services,” she said.

Rose normally operates within the hotels situated in the Ezulwini Valley.
She said she sometimes operates from the bus stop situated next to the MTN Headquarters in Ezulwini.
“I am just hoping that the police will go easy on us over the next coming weeks. We know our trade is illegal in the country but they need to understand that we are also trying to make a living. It is an open secret that there are no jobs in the country yet we have families to support. The harassment by the police is not fair,” she said.

Her friend, Mariah*, also shared the same sentiments and said she hoped to double her earnings during the time.
“I’m even thinking of increasing my charges for the upcoming summit. The tourists will be coming here with money and will be ready to spend on anything they want. It is time to take advantage of that and make maximum cash,” she said.
Mariah said she normally charges E70 for a round of sexual intercourse but this would increase during this period.

At the recent People’s Parliament at Ludzidzini Royal Residence, one speaker caused laugher when he urged government to make sure that the streets were clean during the SADC summit. He said there should be no sex workers roaming the streets during the summit as this would put the country in bad light.

Not only are the sex workers looking into cashing in during the summit, but they are also targeting the Umhlanga reed dance and the International Trade Fair. “Those events too are good for business. I remember last year I made a lot of extra cash during the Umhlanga. I even met guys from overseas who promised to come back even this year,” said Mariah.
*Not real names.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: