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commercial sex workers here have said.
Ladies of the night in Chinotimba Township further claimed that the majority of these married men also paid more than their unmarried counterparts when seeking their services.
They said this was because they did not want the sex workers to reveal their secret life in public, while for others it was because they wanted the same unprotected sex they were used to at home.
“Most of our customers are married men. They do not want to use protection so they offer to pay more,” said Ms Sibonginkosi Tshabalala (38).
Ms Tshabalala, while being a commercial sex worker, is also a peer educator under the Zimbabwe Aids Prevention Programme.
The programme ropes in sex workers to teach them about safe intercourse and they in turn educate their peers.
Ms Tshabalala said many married men claimed their wives refuse to perform some intimate acts and hence they sought gratification from prostitutes.
Another sex worker, Ms Doreen Tshugulu (47), added: “Some girls say if the man offers to pay more they do not use protection, but if it’s the normal charge they insist on the use of condoms.
“For me, if he is the one paying my rentals, there is no need to deny him unprotected sex because he will be the man of the house.”
The commercial sex workers also say they get a lot of business from Zambians, Congolese and other tourists.
Turning to her ZAPP duties as a peer educator, Ms Tshugulu said, “We were taught on behaviour change, stigma and discrimination associated with HIV, seeking treatment and the importance of using protection.
“We then pass on this knowledge to our peers so that they can make informed choices as they go about their business.”
She said many sex workers had left the business since the programme started.
“When we were trained we were 20, but it is just the two of us left now.
“Most peer educators changed their behaviour and others are now married.
“We have since recruited a new group that will soon undergo training under the ZAPP project for commercial sex workers.”
Ms Tshugulu said the younger generation of commercial sex workers seldom operates from one town.
She said they moved from one urban area to another depending on where they felt business was thriving.
“As we speak, the younger girls from Victoria Falls are operating in Hwange and some in Beitbridge.
“They only come here towards holidays, when tourists flock to Victoria Falls,” she said.
A young woman, Ms Christine Moyo, said they priced their clients according to the season, nationality and how rich they appeared to be.
“Prices range from as low as US$2 up to US$1 000 or more depending on where you are operating from and to whom you are offering your services to.”
She said in hotels, porters were a vital link as they connected guests with commercial sex workers, for a small fee.
The commercial sex workers said the female condom was not popular within the trade because it took long to insert and some men distrusted it.
Commercial sex work is one of the key drivers of HIV and STI prevalence in Victoria Falls and Hwange.
However, due to the condom distribution programme and other ZAPP initiatives in the districts, the National Aids Council says the rate of both infections is going down.
NAC provincial co-ordinator for Matabeleland North, Mr Dingaan Ncube, said STI prevalence had gone down from a high of 25 to 19 percent in recent years.
Nationally, the STI prevalence stands at 34 percent.