4 prostitutes arrested for sexual abuse: Malawi to register sex-workers

Malawi Women in Tourism (MWIT) has disclosed plans to register all sex workers and give them identification cards after reported emerged  that police in Mzuzu City arrested four commercial sex workers on suspicion that they sexually abused a 13-year-old boy for two months and infected him with sexually transmitted infections.

Northern Region police spokesperson Maurice Chapola said police arrested Zainabu Mkawa, 37, of Traditional Authority (T/A) Mponda in Mangochi; Martha Mlenga, 22, of Wanja Village, T/A Malanda in Nkhata Bay; Ellen Pemba, 31, of Mkunda Village, T/A Thilamanja in Mulanje and Zainabu Mussa, 32, of T/A Mponda in Mangochi.

“The six started abusing the boy in July this year. The boy was allegedly patronising drinking joints after his grandmother left for their home village. It was after he had problems with urinating that he reported the matter to a neighbouring family who took him to a hospital where he was diagnosed with an infection,” said Chapola.

According to Chapola, two commercial sex workers two are on the run.

Meanwhile,  MWIT president Lucy Saini, said that the group understands  he role sex workers play in the country’s tourism sector hence they fight to be recognised.

Saini said sex workers in hotel and lodges will be taken for HIV/Aids testing and later will be given certificates according to their status.

Malawi’s major cities have seen an increase in prostitution in recent years with girls as young as 12 years involved.

Human rights activists warned the government against legalising prostitution.

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