Prostitutes in Dema Growth Point, Zimbabwe, are reportedly now accepting buckets of maize and cups of beans as payment from their cash-strapped male clients.

Some of the sex workers, who spoke to New Zimbabwe, appealed to the government and other organisations for low-interest loans to start income-generating projects to fend for their starving families.

One of the sex workers, who only identified herself as Alice, said:

“Gone are the days when we used to charge US$5 for the whole night. These days even one dollar is accepted, so that you are able to buy vegetables and tomatoes and cook something for your starving children.”

Alice disclosed that she has three children, one of which is in Form four. The child needs ZIMSEC (Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council) registration fees while the other kids are in Grade seven and Grade One.

She added: “I now even accept a bucket of maize or cups of dried beans as payment for sex services. At least I am assured that my kids will have porridge.”

Another sex worker, only identified as Mavis, said she would have opted to be a house helper. She, however, said locals don’t pay.

The sex workers were attending a Key Affected Populations workshop meant to find ways of reducing HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

The seminar was convened by the National Aids Council at Dema Growth Point.