Malawi: Mzuzu sex workers accuse Police of abuse
17th August 2010

By Nyasa Times

 

Commercial sex workers in Mzuzu have accused police officers for abusing them, demanding money or sex when they are arrested on night patrol.
Reports indicate that police in the northern city demand money or ‘unprotected’ sex from the women for them to be released.

 

One commercial sex worker (name withheld) said she was forced to give in to the demands one night on their way [with police] to Mzuzu Police Station.

 

Speaking to Capital FM radio, the woman said she was afraid of heavy fine in court if she got arrested.

 

She revealed she was forced to have unprotected sex.

 

According to commercial sex workers in the city, police officers invade bottle stores and other drinking joints from midnight to make the arrests.

 

However Mzuzu Police spokesperson Edward Longwe refuted the claims describing them as a “scapegoat”.

 

He said if the ladies were being abused, they could have reported the matter to authorities.

 

The government of Malawi and its partners are on a campaign to get commercial sex workers off the streets as their business is believed to be escalating the spread of HIV/Aids.

 Other surveys show up to 70 percent of Malawian commercial sex workers are already infected with HIV. 

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