Malawi Standard (Blantyre)
Maperenganya Column
15 March 2003
Blantyre — Booze prices are now up so too minibus fares here in the City of Chikanda prompting sex workers, including Miriam to think of increasing their service charges as well.
But the Maperenganya Institute for Booze and Skirt Chasing, a think tank on booze and prostitution in the City of Chikanda warns that if the prostitutes go ahead with the idea, clients will boycott the services.
Pizole, the chief executive and market analyst for booze and prostitutes at Maperenganya Institute for Booze and Skirt Chasing said the intended increase for the 'services' is uncalled for and unjustified.
He said the institute will now be seeking an injunction from the Chikanda Upper Bwalo should the sex workers implement the increase.
"There is no justification whatsover," Pizole told Maperenganya Institute of Juveniles executive director as they shared a packet of opaque beer at Bangalala Vathi.
"Yes, we know that the price of fuel has gone up, due to the fear of the Iraq war and this has triggered the increase in prices of minibus fares and other commodities. Nonetheless, I am afraid, increasing charges on sex work might trigger inflation."
Well, Pizole's assertion that the increase in sex work charges will trigger inflation is unfounded and unjustfied too but I think the City Assembly officials should wipe out the Institute of Sex Workers all together.
Yes, I know that some human rights activists support their existence.
But I believe their disappearance will reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS.
If City Assembly police are able to curb theft and bring peace here in the City of Chikanda, what would be difficult for them to curb sex work which is rampant here in the City of Chikanda despite warnings on the increase of HIV/AIDS, which is claiming many lives?
Instead of spending millions of money on civic education on the dangers of HIV/AIDS, authorities should just instruct the police to arrest any one involved in sex work.
I am saying anyone, be it a man or a woman, Maperenganya or Miriam and lock them up in the police cell, charge them with conduct likely to spread the deadly epidemic and let them serve a prison sentence to deter others from doing so.
It is always sad to see production coming to a halt here in the City of Chikanda because workers leave their work places to attend funerals.
I am always saddened to see orphans here in the City of Chikanda whose parents have died due to HIV/AIDS.
As a patriot, I am saddened to see thousands of professionals dying due to HIV/AIDS.
I am encouraged though to see some people, including the Mayor of the City of Chikanda take a leading role in curbing the situation. Yes, the mayor even looks after some orphans like his own children.
It pleases me to see individuals and organisations spending millions of money on civic education on the dangers of HIV/AIDS but all this could be useless if sex workers are on the loose.
Yes, it is the same as going to Dowa, with a lot of money on civic education on the dangers of the beast, which is killing people rather than killing the beast itself.
I know some of you might think that I am too radical or others might say, "A Maperenganya, mukaledzera simufuna mahule inu?" (Maperenganya, don't you take a sex worker when you are drunk?).
Well, the issue here is that we need to fight the HIV/AIDS with bare hands and everyone should take part.
To me, to say the truth, it sounds useless to go to the sex workers and teach them the dangers of HIV/AIDS. Mind you, most of these people have nothing to rely on for survival except selling themselves.
Therefore, it would be appropriate just to tell them off the streets.
So whether the sex workers are increasing their service charges or not, the police need to arrest them all, including their male counterparts.
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