By The Nyasa Times 

A lawyer and women’s activist, Seodi White says the country’s laws do not criminalise selling and buying sex. 

White, Executive Director of Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Education Trust (WLSA Malawi) told Capital FM Radio’s Straight Talk programme on Tuesday that it is not illegal to purchase sex services in Malawi. 

She said the laws were silent on prostitution but were clear on pimps and brothel owners that they can be prosecuted. 

“If you look at the penal code, it is silent on prostitution. What is criminal is running a brothel, living on the earnings of a prostitute like pimp,” said White in the programme monitored on the radio’s website by Nyasa Times. 

“Actually selling and buying sex is not illegal,” said the lawyer. 

She said Malawi Police officers have been arresting sex workers on charges of rogue and vagabond. 

“Most of these girls they lock themselves up in a room and men visits them or they hang out at a drinking place where they are picked by men. They never arrest those people who are running brothels,” she pointed out 

White added: “Prostitutes in this country are highly discriminated; they are not regarded as real human beings. 

“In sex work there are people who sell and there are people who buy. We need to buy the way of balancing up.” 

She however noted that abortion is illegal under the penal code. 

“The reality on the ground is that most girls are having abortions because they meet these men, much order men, who buy them chips and chicken and give them cell phone units and because they so young, they are not able to negotiate safer sex they end up having sex with these men without condom,” said White. 

She also observed that many young girls are dying because of unsafe abortions.

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