TANGA District has launched an operation to crack down on women involved in prostitution in a bid to purge the city of illegal and immoral business.

The programme has been initiated by the Tanga District Commissioner, Halima Dendegu, in an effort to make sure that Tanga residents abide by moral values while at the same time reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS in the community.

Speaking to religious leaders over the week here, Dendegu said that there are some areas in the city used as sexual workers hubs, something she described as a curse to the city that must be cleansed. She said that in collaboration with her assistants, she has already started the operation in areas which have been identified as centres and commonly used by sexual mongers.

"We want to make sure that Tanga residents live peacefully and religious and government orders are observed. Currently, we have started to deal with people involved in sexual business and we will continue to fight any other illegal business in our district.

We have the capacity and we must act on that effectively," she said. However, she asked religious leaders to help the government in maintaining order and discipline among the community and rebuke criminal acts like prostitution. She said religious leaders have a great chance and capacity to wipe out such problems.

Commenting on the DC's measures one of the religious leaders who preferred anonymity said that his colleagues should support the efforts because religious doctrines were against such acts.