Ministry rules out permitting brothels

The Rhodesia Herald,

January 31, 1974

THE Government will neither establish nor permit brothels, the Minister of Health, Mr Ian McLean, said in Bulawayo yesterday.

“We firmly believe that brothels are contrary to the accepted moral standards of the people of Rhodesia as a whole”.

The minister was asked, in an interview, to comment on views expressed by members of the public from time to time that brothels would take prostitutes off the streets, and safeguard public health.

“When Mr Robin James was a Member of Parliament, he constantly pursued this matter.

“I told him explicitly that brothels would not be undertaken or permitted by the Government.”

Even under medical supervision, brothels did not decrease the incidence of venereal disease.

Brothels would have little or no effect on the type of prostitute who plied her trade on the streets or from private premises.

“Above all, the establishment of brothels would not change the sexual habits of the type of man favours prostitution”.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

◆ A brothel is a place where people meet and engage in sexual activity with commercial sex workers. For legal reasons, brothels are often referred to massage parlours, strip clubs or studios. ◆ Prostitution, solicitation, procuring and having a brothel are all illegal in Zimbabwe. However, the oldest profession remains robust as people use lodges. ◆ Last year, local media reported that some spaces in downtown Harare operated as shops during the day, and brothels by night where commercial sex workers offer their services.

◆ With the numbers of commercial sex workers increasingly exponentially each year, is there need to revisit the legislative framework of this trade in order to contain the spread of sexually transmitted infections, and also protect the spouses?