The Zimbabwe S*x Workers Alliance (ZIMSWA) has renewed its campaign for the decriminalisation of s*x work, saying existing laws expose workers to exploitation, gender-based violence, and health risks.
The organisation intensified its advocacy following a recent engagement with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health held in Bulawayo, where s*x workers outlined their concerns and policy demands.
During the meeting, ZIMSWA members urged lawmakers to adopt respectful language when referring to people in the profession, saying this would help combat stigma and discrimination.
ZIMSWA national coordinator, Queen Ncube, said the current legal environment encourages corruption, human rights violations, and social exclusion. She argued that recognising s*x work as legitimate labour would improve safety, dignity, and access to health services.
“Decriminalisation is not just a matter of fairness — it’s a vital component in achieving Zimbabwe’s public health targets, including the goal of eliminating HIV and AIDS by 2030,” Ncube said.
She added that the alliance has crafted a national decriminalisation strategy developed through consultations with s*x workers from all provinces. The strategy aims to ensure their lived experiences inform national policy debates.
“Our focus is to make sure that s*x workers’ voices lead the conversation and shape the legal reforms that affect them,” she said.
ZIMSWA maintains that criminalising s*x work perpetuates cycles of abuse and marginalisation, whereas decriminalisation would allow workers to access healthcare and legal protection without fear of arrest or harassment.
The alliance said it would continue to work closely with Parliament, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to push for policy reforms that safeguard the rights and wellbeing of s*x workers.
While prostitution remains illegal in Zimbabwe and many African nations such as Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, and Zambia, Senegal stands out as the only country on the continent where s*x work is fully legal and regulated.
