Mixed Reactions as Masvingo Police Arrest 21 Thigh Vendors After Community Complains

21 Thigh Vendors Arrested in Masvingo After Community Complains

In what might be a record-breaking arrest of thigh vendors in one night, Masvingo Police arrested 21 women for allegedly engaging in the world’s oldest profession.

According to Masvingo Mirror, 21 alleged sex workers were arrested by Masvingo Police on Tuesday night and charged with soliciting for the purpose of prostitution.

The women were ordered to pay a fine of US$100 bail or spend one month behind bars when they appeared in court charged under section 81 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) (Chapter 9:23).

Police in Masvingo were forced to take action after residents voiced their growing concern over the increasing prevalence of prostitution in the city.

Also read: “30 Men Per Night”: Zimbabwean Thigh Vendor Narrates How They Operate At Night

Uproar as 21 Thigh Vendors Are Arrested in Masvingo

Naturally, the arrest caused quite a buzz on the internet. There were mixed reactions with some arguing that Masvingo police should not have arrested the thigh vendors as they were just trying to earn a living. Others suggested that Zimbabwe’s laws should be amended to decriminalise the world’s oldest profession. Another section argued that arresting and charging women under section 81 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) (Chapter 9:23) was outlawed. Here are some of the reactions:

@T1Ziruko:

The law was repealed long back if no man can come forward and say he waa offered sex nhai @ZimRightsLIVE @KikaMusa act please

@NyapWalter:

I don’t think this is fair and just. Women and young girls are desperate for work and livelihood. Where can they turn to? I’d rather that the govt support them by making prostitution safe.

@MagariraBelinda:

If the police cannot show who was solicited in court they should let these young women go. We just need to legalise sex work and have it regulated, we cannot keep ignoring how this has grown

@Czeditor:

So they only act when there has been an exposure from social media? @HevoiNews yakaita good job. Asi zvinoda follow-up ne leadership yeMasvingo. Pazvasvika panyanya kuipa.

@kamaradha2023:

ko vanoita vega here ,they shld be in pairs nezvirume zvacho.

Also read: Meet The Zimbabwe Man Who Got His Full Lobola Refund After Multiple Legal Battles With Duplicitous In-Laws

Landmark Ruling: Is Sex Work Legal in Zimbabwe?

A landmark ruling by the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe on May 27, 2015, halted the prosecution of nine women charged under section 81 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) (Chapter 9:23).

The court deemed their arrests unlawful as there was insufficient evidence that they were soliciting for the purposes of prostitution.

These women had been arrested during the police operation called “Operation No to Robberies and Prostitution” while simply walking in the Avenues area. The men who were allegedly solicited were not present to provide evidence of the solicitation.

This ruling now requires the police to have reasonable suspicion and evidence of solicitation before making an arrest. It’s important to note, however, that this ruling does not legalise sex work in Zimbabwe.

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The post Mixed Reactions as Masvingo Police Arrest 21 Thigh Vendors After Community Complains appeared first on iHarare News.

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