File picture
THE PRICE of condoms in Zimbabwe is so high, a three pack will cost you about the same price as the minimum wage domestic workers take home, local media reported last week.
If that’s not disturbing enough, according to local media, sex workers in the country are allegedly having to resort to using bread packets as contraception as the price of condoms and basic essentials continues to rise.
In Chiadzwa, a condom is sold for between $1 (about R15) and $2, depending on the scarcity of the product at that particular time, says ‘The Manica Post’.
‘The Manica Post’ further revealed that the condom crisis came to light during a media tour organised by the National Aids Council.
A very short story of how a ruined economy has created more problems for the oldest profession in the world.
— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) June 4, 2022
How it started👇🏿The consequences 👇🏿 pic.twitter.com/gvcyEV3gTK
“This might help you understand Zimbabwe’s economic collapse.
“The Zimbabwean Government announced through a gazette last week that the official domestic worker wage is ZW$10,000. Now a pack of condoms today is ZW$12,200! This is what ZANUPF incompetence and corruption has done! A person’s monthly salary is less than a pack of 3 condoms,” writes prominent Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono.
Citing a report by ‘The Manica Post’, a 21-year old sex worker from Mutare told journalists that she started sex work at 16, and bread packaging was being used as a substitute for condoms when sex workers face shortages. Mutare is the most populous city in the province of Manicaland, and the third most populous city in Zimbabwe,
Sex Workers in Zimbabwe now accepting Beans and Maize as Payment for their Services.
— Highkay's Store (@simon_highkay) May 25, 2021
😭😭💔💔 pic.twitter.com/fdphG908cI
Mutare medical practitioner Dr Tendai Zuze said that using bread packaging was risky as it might not be strong enough to sustain the pressure of friction during intercourse.
It could easily break and put the people involved at risk of transmission of sexually transmitted disease, added Zuze.
IOL