Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
SEX workers in Zimbabwe have applauded Government and health sector partners for expanding access to healthcare services for marginalised communities, while also calling for stronger action to end gender-based violence (GBV) targeting sex workers.
In an interview this morning to mark International Sex Workers’ Day today, sex worker-led organisation Springs of Life Zimbabwe (SLZ) programmes coordinator, Ms Precious Msindo acknowledged progress made in HIV prevention and healthcare access in Zimbabwe.
The commemorations come at a time when Zimbabwe is intensifying efforts to end new HIV transmissions by 2030 through expanded prevention and treatment programmes targeting vulnerable populations.
Recent Government interventions include the rollout of Lenacapavir — a long-acting HIV prevention injection administered twice yearly — alongside continued condom distribution and other HIV prevention measures.
Ms Msindo said increased access to healthcare services was helping vulnerable communities access life-saving support.
“We appreciate the progress being made in ensuring healthcare services reach vulnerable communities and that no one is left behind,” said Ms Msindo.
She said sex workers were increasingly benefiting from HIV testing services, sexual reproductive health programmes, counselling and gender-based violence support services through partnerships involving Government, civil society organisations and healthcare institutions.
However, Ms Msindo warned that despite the gains in healthcare access, sex workers continued to face targeted violence, discrimination and abuse.
“We strongly denounce these brutal actions. They are a calculated manifestation of systemic misogyny and discrimination designed to strip sex workers of their dignity and fundamental freedom of movement,” she said.
“Every single citizen, including every sex worker and member of a marginalized community in Zimbabwe, possesses an inherent constitutional right to life, safety and bodily autonomy.”
Community champion Ms Grace Tembo said while sex workers were celebrating improved health access, more still needed to be done to protect them from abuse and violence.
“We are happy that healthcare services are now more accessible and that prevention programmes are reaching many sex workers,” said Ms Tembo.
“But as we celebrate these achievements, we also want to see a reduction in abuse cases targeting sex workers because violence continues to affect many women in our communities.”
Ms Tembo said fear of stigma and harassment still discouraged some survivors from reporting cases of violence.
She called for stronger community awareness programmes and greater protection for vulnerable women.
SLZ said stigma, discrimination and criminalisation continued to expose sex workers to exploitation and violence while limiting access to justice.
“Criminalization, systemic stigma and institutional bias turn victims into targets, fostering a dangerous climate where criminal elements assault sex workers with total impunity,” said Ms Msindo.
The organisation urged communities to reject victim-blaming and instead support survivors of violence.
“A crime committed against a sex worker is a crime against humanity. The responsibility for violence rests 100 percent on the shoulders of the perpetrator,” she said.
International Sex Workers’ Day is commemorated globally on June 2 to recognise the rights, dignity and welfare of sex workers while raising awareness on challenges affecting vulnerable communities.
