Prostitution ‘rampant’ in Namibia, doubled in some areas

THE world’s oldest profession is ‘rampant’ in Namibia, with statistics showing that prostitution has gone up by 100 per cent in some places in the country over the last four years.

So said Merab Kiremire, the Namibian co-ordinator for the Churches United Against HIV & AIDS in Southern and Eastern Africa (CUAHA), in Windhoek yesterday.According to Kiremire, research has shown that in July 2006, 30 prostitutes were counted in Walvis Bay’s Fifth Street. Four years later, in July this year, 60 prostitutes were counted there – an increase of 100%.Similarly, Kiremire said, the number of prostitutes has also doubled at Oshikango in Northern Namibia.Four years ago, 35 sex workers were counted in a nightclub here. Last month, 70 were counted, she said. CUAHA and the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) did research on prostitution and human trafficking from May to July this year.When the findings of the research was made known yesterday, Kiremire said: ‘Prostitution is rampant in the country and it is drastically increasing.’According to her, more young people, both male and female, resort to selling their bodies in exchange for money. It was established that commercial sex services are offered mostly at lodges, in the streets, at petrol stations and on highways. The clients are often long-distance truck drivers. She said: ‘Truck drivers are their main economic source. Truck drivers are highly frustrated due to poor wages and [their] working conditions. Only prostitutes see them as human beings.’Kiremire said it was found that people resort to prostitution primarily because of poverty, unemployment, dropping out of school as well as drug and alcohol abuse. Other factors which help sustain the trade are a breakdown in families, community destitution and gender-based violence, she said.CCN General Secretary Maria Kapere said the church needs to re-evaluate its position in fighting ‘the spiritual socio-economic crises of this generation’.’Our societies need to be reached and compassionately loved. The church is, therefore, called to wake up, unite and be relevant to face the challenges of our generation. We are living in the opportune time for the church to challenge the world’s self-serving notions and to teach what justice is and how to get there.’

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