Prostitution is reportedly on the rise at Raiply new residential site in Mzimba District, an area dominated by unemployed single women and men.
Peter Kalumbi, a trader at the site, told Malawi News Agency-Mana in an interview recently that he makes a lot of money through the sale of female condoms, as a result of the prostitution boom.
He said he sells almost eight cartons per day, each carton containing 24 female condoms, translating to 192 female condoms being sold per day.
Contrary to tradition, Kalumbi says women in the area approach men for sex and money at night.
He said: “Most women here are single, it is likely their marriages broke up and they are here in search of jobs at Raiply Company.”
Assistant compound manager at the site, Aaron Mphande, said there are over 800 families in the area, with many single unemployed women occupying small houses, a situation that has led to a lot of marriages breaking up and an increase in the spread of HIV and Aids at the site.
Said Mphande: “It is true prostitution is rampant in my area, I handle not less than three cases of women fighting over men per week.”
M’mbelwa District Council Aids coordinator Frank Mfune said most male clients at Raiply prefer unprotected sex, which probably explains why women at the site have resorted to using female condoms to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV and Aids and unwanted pregnancies.
Said Mfune: “We will soon partner with other organisations to carry out awareness campaigns and HIV testing and counselling to reduce new HIV infections in the district.” n
