Female sex workers decry police abuse

Female sex workers in Mwanza District have bemoaned unfair treatment allegedly from female officers at Mwanza Police Station when they go to seek assistance after facing sexual abuse from clients.

Mwanza Female Sex Workers Association chairperson Angella Mwazemba said this on Tuesday during a  stakeholders meeting organised by Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance (Chreaa) with funding from Southern Africa Litigation Centre aimed at getting feedback from the association and the stakeholders in the district.

“Some female police officers do not treat us with dignity instead they shout at us in public when we go to complain about cases of abuse and harassment we face in the course of our normal duties. Inu ndi amene mukusokoneza mabanja athu nde mukufuna kuti ife tomwe tikuthandizeninso? [How can we help you when you are the ones snatching our husbands?” she said.

Mwazemba said among challenges they report to police include getting beaten up by customers, clients refusing to pay them after offering their services and other forms of sexual abuse and harassment.

But Mwanza Police Station Victim Support Unit coordinator Graciano Chirombo assured the female sex workers that they will be treated well at the station.

“We will scale up human rights awareness targeting all police officers. We will also strengthen coordination with community structures,” he said.

Chreaa district paralegal officer Boxten Kudziwe commended the participants for being able to raise issues they felt violated their rights.

A sex worker at Mwanza Border Post who spoke on condition of anonymity said she expected a positive attitude from female police officers after the meeting.