'Sex At A Discount'

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Monday March 1, 2010 00:00

The clients seem drawn to the usually overly made-up face of the women, who on a daily basis line the streets hoping to get a night catch. What does it take to negotiate a price with one of these ladies of the night? And just what drives the ladies into this business that is disdained by so many? Monitor reporter Ephraim Kooreng and photographer Kebofhe Mathe paid the ladies a non-business call.

Gaborone's Middle Star Shopping Complex. Time: 11pm. Ostensibly sure that the din from blaring car music and the usual month-end excitement will effectively veil his voice a young man steps out of a vehicle. It is the fashionable type that are very popular with this particular age-group. He leaves the car idling for some time as he negotiates with one of the women that normally line the area in point. This dude knows what he is doing as it takes him only a few seconds to seal the deal and speed off with his catch. But sshh!! The guy is a royal! He had to be brisk. He is a fairly educated brother to a paramount chief of the so-called 'major tribes'. So he knew not to linger, lest prying eyes spot him. Four pairs of eyes in an unmarked car saw it all though. In disbelief. For this dude is the epitome of moral rectitude, a respectful member of the society who society, expects not to secure the services of a prostitute. Surely this 'is a filthy barbarian' thing to do, and what will the tribe, let alone the whole nation say about a royal who engages in this behavior? The double standard shown by the royal is not unique to this young man. Why, the rich and powerful do it too.

With the car having sped off we surveyed the scene before us: A dozen girls with various body sizes, heights and dresses in an array of colors walked to and from, running towards an arriving car now and then. Even then it is clear that each one of the girls has a chosen spot and is keeping to it. Now and then though a girl would move closer into another's territory where they would engage in banter and soft laughter. The rules appear clear cut: When a vehicle approached the one with the right of first approach is the owner of the territory. Only if she fails 'negotiating' and winning the client, can the other go for it.

We decide to approach one of the girls. Grace, as she wants to be called is a 23 year old from Zimbabwe. Walking briskly in her tight mini-skirt, stiletto shoes and a hugging top, she approaches us and having satisfied herself that the smile she has just flashed has disarmed us clears her throat and pleads, 'I can give you a discount. I am fresh and new in the industry so you can expect a lot of fun from me,' she says.

So an opportunity had presented itself finally. Grace was our third attempt. We explained that we wanted to buy, except we would only be buying her time and nothing more. A little hesitation. A frown. Then, she agreed to talk, 'on condition that you will pay me for my time. You see time is important to us,' she says. We furiously agree, not willing to lose the 'catch'. Flashing the cash that we carry is enough. We have to pay her, we agree. After all we are using her time.

'I started this job in January this year. I came from Zimbabwe to look for greener pastures here. I came and settled with some friends in Maruapula. They initiated me into this business. During the day, like anyone else we go look for piece jobs in yards. This job we start at night,' she explains.

Grace had never in her life imagined herself as a prostitute. She had gone to school and found a job in Zimbabwe but unfortunately the company folded leaving her unemployed.

She refuses to state whether she would leave prostitution or not if she found a well paying job, preferring to talk more about her two months experiences as a lady of the night.

'At first I felt so bad, asking myself why I am degrading myself like this. We discussed it with my friends who have been in the business for long. At the end I realized that there is nothing wrong with what I am doing. As long as there are people coming to me to buy, then it is a fair transaction. Just like any service provider, I give services to the society and help men - from labourers to influential people like politicians, giving them sexual gratification. If I am wrong in what I do, then they are also wrong because they make us wait for them here. They create the market and we simply sell,' she says emphatically.

Grace has quickly learnt the trade. She has also learnt the risks associated with it. She talks of how thugs who want to rob them of their hard-earned cash often rough them up. Then, there are those nasty police officers who want to be paid for leaving the women alone and 'guaranteeing' them some protection from the law - 'protection money'.

'They tell us it is unlawful for us to be loitering in these streets and we know this, hence we give them money so they cannot arrest us. Sometimes they are helpful in that when you have their cell-numbers we can always call them for help when we see some people who want to harass or rob us,' she says.

As we leave Grace and drive around the street we my photographer takes a few quick shots of the ladies who stand on this end. One of the ladies, seemiglyhaving not seen the flashes approaches our car and asks, 'Why are you going in twos, instead of one?' she demands and adds that 'I would gladly take you two at once, but you will have to pay a substantial figure. Something like six hundred for the whole night,' But then she takes a closer look inside the car, sees the camera and realizes she talking to the wrong company. She bolts as she utters obscenities and slips back into the shadows.

We move around and meet a half dozen more ladies. Month end appears to be not so bad a time for these 'busineswomen'.

'On days like these I can have up to 10 customers and that is P500, as I charge P50 per customer,' says Mary.

We find the same situation at the Gaborone West Shopping Complex, another haven for the nocturnal dealers.

However these are low-budget and affordable for low budget solicitor.

'I cater for various kinds of clients and I would charge you more or little depending on the way you are dressed and talk. But on month-ends we charge steeper prices. We can go up to P150 for short times,' said Mavis.

We chat lightly with girls - having bought their time. As we leave, we are more than convinced that prostitution is a reality. One that is created by the varying circumstances that the women find themselves in.