Sundaymail Editor
Emmanuel Kafe
Check Point Desk
HARARE is a city of many contrasts.
Beneath its vibrant streets and bustling business hubs lies a shadowy underworld concealed by the tranquil facades of massage and beauty parlours.
The establishments — often advertised as “tranquil oases for relaxation and rejuvenation”— are in reality cesspools of illicit activities, including prostitution, drug trafficking, “sextortion” and sexual exploitation of underage girls.
An undercover investigation into the city’s booming massage industry has revealed a troubling network of exploitation and corruption, transforming Harare into a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah.
Inside massage parlours
Our investigation started with a simple review of local newspapers and social media platforms, where massage parlours promote their services with appealing messages.
“Bevy of Hotties Massage Spa — come and rewind the day,” reads one advert.
Another encourages: “Make time to calm your mind, soothe your body and rejuvenate.” Swedish massage, deep tissue, sports, nuru and aromatherapy massage were available, with an “extra special” on top.
These seemingly innocent promotions appeal to a broad demographic, ranging from affluent businesspeople to young professionals seeking an escape from the stresses of everyday life.
The prices range from US$20 to as much as US$50 for a “full house session” or “girlfriend experience”. A full house session includes limited access to all the services offered and typically lasts one to two hours.
Posing as a client, this reporter visited multiple parlours throughout the city, ranging from the affluent suburbs of Borrowdale and Belvedere to the vibrant streets of the central business district. What began as a routine massage enquiry quickly revealed the darker side of these establishments and how Harare has become a “Sin City”.
Lured, trapped
Behind the glossy veneer of these parlours are stories of vulnerable young women and girls, some as young as 15, who are lured into the sex trade with promises of a better life.
Tariro (surname withheld), a 15-year-old girl from Epworth, a dormitory town on the outskirts of Harare, is a victim.
She was recruited to work as a masseuse and a beauty therapist.
A masseuse is someone who specialises in massage therapy.
They use various techniques to manipulate soft tissue, such as muscles, tendons and ligaments, to promote relaxation, relieve pain and tension, and improve overall well-being.
Masseuses mostly work in spas, hotels or clinics. “I was approached by a woman who told me she could give me a job as a masseuse and beauty therapist.
“She said I would earn good money and live in a nice house in Belvedere. I believed her because I wanted to help my family,” she said.
The reality, however, was much darker than the simple world of manicures and facials. “When I got there, I was told I had to work as a masseuse, but it was not long before they forced me to do other things. They said I owed them money for bringing me here and that I had to repay it.”
Within days, Tariro was trapped, her innocence bartered for the fleeting pleasures of men seeking “extras” beyond a simple massage.
The “beauty therapist” was a recruiter, part of a network that preyed on vulnerable girls, luring them with false promises of financial security. Before her escape, Tariro worked at Rain Massage Parlour in Belvedere, located along Charles Bullock Avenue.
The news crew visited the establishment days after the revealing interview to verify her account. Upon arrival at the residential premises, a half-naked girl greeted us at the gate and escorted us into a room furnished with a bed and a massage table.
Moments later, nearly naked and scantily clad young girls entered the room to introduce themselves.
True to what she had confided in us, we observed several seemingly young girls working at this joint.
When we inquired about their services, we were presented with a menu listing various types of massages, all with the option of an “extra service”.
Alcohol and drugs like crystal meth, also known as mutoriro, were also offered as part of the “extras”.
While working undercover with a hidden camera rolling, we discreetly created an excuse to leave, claiming we had forgotten something in the car. We exited without raising suspicion and quickly departed, having collected enough evidence to unveil the illicit activities.
We discovered the same situation at Silhouette Massage Spa in Avondale, Whispering Waters Spa in Hillside and Bevy of Beauties in Eastlea.
Meanwhile, those deeply entrenched in the trade openly advertise their X-rated services on social media platforms, posting explicit images and videos alongside contact details for potential clients.
Extras, drugs and sextortion
At a parlour in Eastlea, a young masseuse, no older than 16, offered “extras” — a coded term for sexual services — within minutes of inquiring about the menu of the services.
“We can make this experience unforgettable,” she whispered, her tone suggestive.
When asked about the availability of drugs, she nodded confidently.
“We have weed cakes (muffins laced with marijuana), whisky, crystal meth and Broncleer; it will enhance the experience,” she said with a knowing smile.
The parlours operate with a brazenness that suggests they are untouchable.
Perhaps the most sinister practice uncovered was sextortion.
Clients are secretly recorded during illicit encounters and the footage is later used to blackmail them.
One victim, a middle-aged businessman who spoke on condition of anonymity, shared his harrowing experience.
“They threatened to post the video on social media if I didn’t pay them US$500. I had no choice but to comply.
“I was called by a man who claimed to have evidence of my time at one of these parlours; he explained in detail the car I had, and everything that happened that day.
“I was shocked, and I paid the money, and it died down,” he said.
The network
The investigation revealed that these parlours are part of a highly organised network.
Recruiters, often women themselves, target vulnerable girls from poor communities, exploiting their desperation and lack of opportunities. Once recruited, the girls are brought to these establishments, housed in cramped, unsanitary conditions and forced to work long hours.
Owners, often well-connected businesspeople, operate with impunity.
Payments are made in cash or via mobile money platforms to avoid detection, and the parlours are strategically located in affluent suburbs to cater for a clientele of wealthy businesspeople, politicians and celebrities.
When contacted for comment, some individuals we spoke with, who claimed to be the owners of these establishments, insisted that they were running bona fide massage parlours and had valid licences.
A woman who only identified herself as Monica from Silhouette Massage Spa in Avondale claimed they had a licence to operate their establishment.
“We are a registered business,” she said, but did not specify which board or authority they were registered with.
Shamiso said they were running a private business at Whispering Waters Spa in Hillside. “Are you a police officer or a council official? Can you ask if we have a licence? We are running a private business, and all our documents are in order,” she said.
Interestingly, all the mobile numbers they use — +263782885193: Silhouette (Monica); +2637910338003: Whispering Waters (Shamiso); and +263781800608: Rain Massage Parlour (Belvedere) — are not registered for mobile money transactions, apparently to avoid detection.
Crackdown
The Natural Therapists Council of Zimbabwe (NTCZ) has established a task force to address the proliferation of illegal massage parlours that operate as fronts for illicit activities, and it has vowed to restore integrity to the profession. The council says the illegal activities taking place in some massage parlours are “dangerous” and “dreadful”.
“Some of the procedures happening are quite scary. It is dreadful because there are age limits for training — you must be 16 and above even to begin. Yet, there are now reports of underage girls being exploited in these establishments,” NTCZ registrar Ms Kate Rose stated in an interview.
“We have established a task force within NTCZ to address this issue. We do not want to launch into town and other areas aggressively, but rather to approach these establishments and educate them about the legal requirements for operating as legitimate beauty therapists and massage parlours.”
She also said beauty therapy, which encompasses aesthetics and massage, is a regulated profession requiring a diploma from approved training institutions.
Although manual aesthetics and massages are not yet recognised as fields of practice under the Health Professions Act (HPA), the council has submitted proposed amendments to the HPA that are awaiting approval by the Minister of Health and Child Care.
The council is advocating minimum standards and the establishment of a regulatory board to oversee, monitor and vet therapists. National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the law does not permit the operation of brothels.
“Communities should report any household or location they suspect to be a brothel so we can take necessary action, as it is illegal,” he said.
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said individuals wishing to convert their private homes for commercial use must follow proper procedures with local authorities.
“To operate a lodge or massage parlour, one must apply for a change of use for the property in question, in accordance with Section 26 (3) of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act, and obtain a conditional permit. Failing to do so constitutes a violation of Section 24 of the Act, which is a punishable offence,” he said.
Operating a massage parlour without a licence from local authorities is illegal, he added.
Online Reporter