Malawi govt moves to address sex workers’ grievances
Malawi government has moved to address grievances the female sex workers have been raising in relation to the strict Covid-19 preventive measures the government is implementing to tame the coronavirus disease pandemic.
The Covid-19 preventive measures had reportedly forced sex workers to reduce their charges by 30 percent as the largest constituency of their clientele had stopped frequenting entertainment joints and bars.
This prompted sex workers, under the banner of Female Sex Workers Association (FSWA), to take to the streets of Lilongwe where they protested the measures.
They asked the government to uplift the ban on the time for opening bars and other entertainment places from the current 8pm to 12pm from Monday to Thursday.
They also asked the government to remove this ban from Friday to Sunday when they say their business is usually at peak.
The association warned that it would be forced to take unspecified action if the government did not address their concerns.
This week, the government has moved to address these grievances. On Saturday morning, the Office of the Presidential Advisor on NGOs, the Ministry of Health and Population and the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare engaged the leadership of FSWA in a dialogue to understand each other on what each party can take in combating the pandemic while protecting and promoting the welfare of the sex workers.
Over 30 sex workers – drawn from all the 28 districts, attended the meeting, which took place at Yamikani Lodge in Salima.
FSWA executive director Zinenani Majawa said the economic impact of COVID-19 resulting from the widespread closure of businesses and industries has put increased financial strain on communities, particularly in segments of the population that are already vulnerable such as female sex workers.
Zinenani disclosed that since the pandemic started and following the ban on public gatherings and order by city councils to close bars and bottlestores by 8pm, majority of the sex workers across the country reduced their charges by 30 percent as most of their reliable clients complain of being broke.
“Female sex workers’ income has dropped and, in some weeks, they spend days without making any money. Most of them do not have money for food, rent, medicine since most public health service points are operating partially,” she said.
She added that the pandemic, just as is the case with other health crises, is exposing existing inequalities and disproportionately affecting people already criminalized, marginalized and living in precarious health and economic situations, often outside social protection mechanisms.
Zinenani further lamented that sex workers are being sidelined in the in government’s Covid-19 response services.
“We therefore recommend that police should stop abusing and taking advantage of the plight of sex workers. The government should provide sex workers with safety nets,” she said.
Chief Gender Officer in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Fred Simwaka, said the ministry has developed progressive policies and legal instruments that protect and promote the rights of every woman, including sex workers.
Simwaka therefore asked the sex workers to utilize the legal frameworks and policies to safeguard their rights.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Advisor on NGOs, Martha Kwataine, emphasized that the government understands the challenges sex workers face in this era of the pandemic; hence, it is taking all the necessary measures to address them.
However, Kwataine warned that lifting the ban on onsite consumption of alcoholic beverages would pose serious threat to the life of both customers as well as bar owners.
“I therefore pleaded with you to understand the government on why it is taking these decisions. They are for your own good and the good of your clients. It’s not as if the government simply wants to punish you,” she said.
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What a shame with the government leaving the teachers and attending sex workers this government doesn’t know it’s priorities than concentrating useless issues
What good will see worker’s do to the nation
There is more pressing issues to see to
Me tired of Mickey Mouse Republic heyaaa! Basi, tizikhalila kumvesera a zamadula pamajiga ???
Sex workers
Hi
The Tonse Govt values prostitutes more than Teachers hahaha what a shame, a busa taganizani ngati munthu wa mulungu, Malawians are not a problem but the leadership is the problem,,Za mahule ndiye kuyankha msanga msanga. Shame on you
Stupidity at its best! Entertaining maggots in our society. This reverend president is now joking.
Has sex work been legalised in Malawi now? Apologies for my ignorance, it’s a long time I left Malawi…….
I am just wondering why the government is wasting taxpayers money holding meetings with self confessed sex workers instead of arresting them…..
eee a kwataine mwa dzina lao. shaa za pandemic yi mwazitaya uko? kapena kudikila NGO ikuyerseni mmanja
Just encouarage them to go and do other things than go spreading HIV around. Whet is it that they cannot do that they decide to trade in their private parts? Is this the commitment we need to keep busy with? Whenthey were making a lot f money ot of stealing through their privates how much did they pay in taxes? Why should they be considered to use other peoples taxes ? NO NO NO NO Never
The airtime given to these people is unnecessary aaarrgg
The group is legal thats why it was registered by The Register General
This world is not my home
The the price should be refucef
Inu a kwataine ndi anzanu osamaputsa. Boma LA Malawi lili ndi zambiri zopanga and kukambilana ndi mahule is not one of them. Anthu awo ndi nkhokwe za matenda including hiv and aids, covid mkati. Please osamasekelela zopusa. Tomorrow. A gays akupezani u will be smiling too. We know there is funding from. USA for these groups and akupasani ma allowance. God is watching. These fools should apply for loans ku NEEF and stop walking naked at night. Anthu akuwanyenga mkamwa…. That’s dehumanizing. Please police… Awa ngofunika kumenya basi asamapange za u devil zawozi
THIS IS A CRISIS WHICH NEEDS ADDRESSED AS IT INVOLVES PEOPLE WHOSE BASIC NEEDS MUST BE MET! AS FOR THE LAW AND ANY LEGISLATION, THEY ARE IMPORTANT BUT THEY FOLLOW AFTER LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED. EVEN MURDRERS GET PROTECTED IN BIG WELL COVERED VAN OR TRUCK ….SO WHY NOT A PROSTITUTE??
Just give them LOANS
Tamverani maphunzitsi not these idiots
Of pastor as president versus prostitutes he he he he
Lord have mercy
Ka business ka kangofungofu
What’s wrong with this government? When was prostitution made legal in Malawi? You might as well sit down with drug dealers and everyone doing illicit businesses.
I agree with you. This government wants to please everyone. No. Let’s just look at the constitution and follow the laws. Tomorrow, the gays and drug traffickers will seek an audience with authorities. It’s crazy…. Why should we be protecting mahule…… Akatenge ma loan ku NEEF.
Albino killers will also request for audience
Why hv the meeting in salina? Was Lilongwe not conveinent.
Amadula akhale choncho nkhani ya 2 minutes mpkana ndalama zonsezo kkk.
We are entertaining evils things in a name of democracy. A Presidential Advisor is not supposed to implement anything, theor role is to advise the President then it is up to the president to take up with a relevant minister. Kwataine over rates herself.
in the name of NGOs
chinekeeeeee
By the way, is this business legal in Malawi?
Exactly my question!
ndipo anawalemba ncito imeneyi ndi mdani alesi amenewa.
ngati pali ndalama zipaseni anthu azipange bank nkhonde maanja azitukuka
Exactly what I was asking myself. Last time I checked, this was an illegal sector in Malawi. This government Eish, how can you engage sex workers when sex trade is illegal in the country? Does it make sense?