Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THE festive season is typically a time of joy and togetherness, but for many rural communities in Manicaland, it serves as a harsh reminder of the bleak reality facing their youths.
In areas such as Hauna Growth Point, Watsomba, Rusape, and Nyamaropa, the nightlife has taken on a disturbing tone.
Local nightclubs and bars, dubbed โโKwaSataniโโ by locals, have gained notoriety for their seedy reputation.
โโKwaSataniโโ, meaning โโof Satanโโ, is not an exaggeration โ it reflects the sinister activities unfolding within these establishments.
In the dimly lit nightclubs and bars of Manicaland, a devastating reality unfolds. Young girls, some merely 11-year-old, are being lured into the world of exploitation, despair, and child prostitution.
Wishes Sibanda, an 18-year-old teenager from Manondo Village, narrowly escaped this fate.
In a recent interview at Hauna Growth Point, she shared her heart-breaking story.
โOurs is a tale of silent suffering,โ she said, her voice trembling.
โPoverty drives us to make desperate choices. We are pressured by peers from more affluent families who flaunt their lifestyles. We feel forced to keep up. If we had access to projects and opportunities, we might break free. Instead, we are exposed to HIV and AIDS at an alarmingly young age. It is heart-breaking,โ she explained, her voice trembling with emotions.
She painted a harrowing picture of what life is like for her and her peers.
โOver 90 percent of my peers visit these nightclubs because they come from impoverished families. As a result, we engage in unprotected sex with married men. It is shocking to see even 11-year-olds present. Our parents have dubbed these nightclubs โKwaSataniโ due to the appalling activities that take place there. There is an unspoken rule that what happens at KwaSatani stays there, unspoken and hidden. Sadly, all ages are involved in these night time gatherings, which are essentially transactional sex parties,โ she said.
Sibanda believes meaningful interventions can make a difference.
โIf we receive training in skills or start businesses, we wonโt need to visit those bars. I urge that we get vocational training, mentorship initiatives, and community-driven projects. I believe this could be a lifeline for vulnerable girls like us,โ she said.
The nickname โKwaSataniโ was coined by frustrated parents and elders who have witnessed the moral decay in these establishments.
Mrs Tsitsi Munyebvu, a parent from Hauna Growth Point, expressed her concerns: โIt is not just the drinking, dancing, and late nights that have tarnished our growth pointโs reputation, but the sinister undercurrent of child prostitution thriving within its confines.โ
โAs struggling parents, we are powerless as our children are lured into sex work. I know a father from Nyamaropa whose daughter fell victim to this nightlife; it is heart-breaking. We try guiding our children, but hunger outweighs advice.
โThey leave home hungry, and when they hear peers boasting about earning money at these bars, they follow suit. We are afraid that we are losing a generation,โ she said.
A parent from Nyamaropa, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her anguish after her daughter fell prey to the nightlife.
โI taught my daughter right from wrong, but poverty is a relentless foe. These bars are destroying our childrenโs futures. They return with money, but at what cost? We urgently need opportunities for them, so they can leave these places behind,โ she said.
The root of the problem lies in the pervasive poverty gripping these communities.
Families struggle to provide basics like food and school supplies, leading girls to see nightclubs as their only escape.
The festive season has worsened the issue, with increased bar activities and higher risks for those involved.
Local leaders acknowledge the crisis, but feel overwhelmed by its magnitude.
Councillor Rose Mukodza of Ward 10 in Mutasa Central has been vocal about the need for urgent action.
She emphasized that poverty is the underlying issue connecting the stories of these girls, weaving a web of desperation that ensnares them, forcing them to exchange their innocence for survival.
โPoverty is the main driver of this problem. Most of these girls leave home without eating, and when they get to school, they hear their friends talking about going to bars to make money. Prostitution has become a menace in this area, tearing our communities apart,โ said Councillor Mukodza.
She called for the introduction of initiatives such as vocational training and income-generating projects to provide alternative livelihoods for the youths.
โThe truth is that the consequences of the KwaSatani lifestyle extend far beyond the immediate risks of disease and exploitation. The psychological scars on the young girls are profound, leaving them with shattered self-esteem and a diminished sense of self-worth. However, as a community we believe that if they have access to income-generating projects, they will be able to leave this nightlife menace behind,โ she said.
Hauna Growth Point has emerged as a hotspot for HIV and AIDS, prompting concern from organisations like National AIDS Council.
Miss Nyasha Nyamapfeni, the councilโs youth officer for Mutasa District, highlighted the areaโs risks.
โHauna is a hub for high-risk activities, including unprotected sex among minors. This creates a breeding ground for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and STIs,โ she said.
Despite the challenges, there is hope for change.
