Many women in Bulawayo’s high-density suburbs resort to sex work in desperation, due to poverty, lack of job opportunities, and the responsibility of caring for family.
Sex work for Zimbabwean women like Anenyasha is difficult and dangerous. The risk of violence for sex workers is great. As many as 75% of female sex workers are assaulted or abused at least once in their lifetimes.
Anenyasha tells her story.
“While working as a sex worker, I met a man who became my boyfriend and the father of my fourth child. He was abusive but - because he was able to take care of me and our child - I stayed with him. If I made any money, he would beat me up and take that money from me.
But then I was introduced to the Nehemiah Project early last year. They taught me that I can work with my own hands and take care of my children. I learnt so much and was also offered counselling.
When I got a business grant from the Nehemiah Project, my boyfriend turned the house upside down and took all the money. He beat me up till I was badly bruised. He tore up all my pieces of clothing including the clothes I was wearing, because I told him I wanted to leave him.”
“The Nehemiah project helped me with clothes and also medication for my injuries.
It was then that I was told I could report the abuse. It was successful because he got arrested.
My two middle girls, I had left with their fathers' relatives, because I had no way to take care of them.
But through the Nehemiah project, I was empowered to take my children back through the assistance of the police.
I discovered my daughters had been living in conditions that were not conducive. Many nights they would spend without eating. They never went to school."
"My third daughter was timid and gravely afraid of people and would not interact or speak. It was discovered that her father’s younger brother had been sexually abusing her.
I opened a police case and now my daughter is doing a lot better."
"I have since stopped being a sex worker and work with my own hands.
Currently I am selling tomatoes and chicken cuts, to support my children. If I hadn’t connected with the Nehemiah Project, I would have been dead because of the abuse or life stresses.
My encouragement to those who are experiencing abuse is to report it and seek help and counselling.
There is a way out.”