Prostitution in Botswana is not illegal, but laws such as public disorder, vagrancy, loitering and state recognised religious provisions are used to prosecute prostitutes.[1] Related activities such as soliciting and brothel keeping are illegal.[1] Botswana has made proposals to make prostitution legal to prevent the spread of AIDS.[2] However, there has been mass opposition to it by the Catholic Church. Prostitution is widespread and takes place on the street, bars, hotels, brothels and the cabs of long-distance trucks.[2][3][4]
Law enforcement is weak, inconsistent and corrupt. Sex workers report routine violence and extortion by the police.[1] Police sometimes demand sex or bribes from foreign prostitutes under threat of deportation.[5] Condoms are issued free from health centres, but are often confiscated from sex workers by the police.[2]
The Gaborone West shopping complex and the streets surrounding it, are the main area of prostitution in the capital, Gaborone.[6] The Itekeng ward of Francistown (locally known as 'Doublers') is the main area of prostitution in the city. The majority of the prostitutes in both cities are from Zimbabwe.[6][5][7] In 2013, the Botswana's Ministry of Health estimated there were more than 1,500 Zimbabwean sex workers in the country, mainly in Gaborone, Francistown and Kasane,[8] out of a total of about 4,000 prostitutes in those three areas.[9][10]
Although homosexuality is stigmatised in the country, male prostitution is on the increase in Botswana, especially in Gaborone, Palapye, Francistown, Maun, Kasane and Kazungula.[11]
- ^ a b c "Sex Work Law - Countries". Sexuality, Poverty and Law. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ^ a b c "Botswana mulls legalising prostitution to fight HIV". BBC. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ^ "Push to legalise prostitution in Botswana". Times Live. Archived from the original on 16 November 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ^ "Legalising prostitution will benefit the rich". The Botswana Gazette. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ^ a b Mosikare, Lebogang (24 March 2016). "Surviving on the proceeds of prostitution". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ^ a b Mooketsi, Lekopanye (23 June 2014). "The sex hub of Gaborone". The Monitor. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ^ Jakes, Stephen (1 April 2015). "Zimbabwean women blamed for rampant prostitution in Botswana, as one round costs P20". Bulawayo24 News. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ^ Dube, Mtokozisi (3 June 2014). "Sex workers of Gaborone go an extra mile". Africa Review. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
avertwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Sex workers: Population size estimate - Number, 2016". www.aidsinfoonline.org. UNAIDS. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
- ^ Mmeso, Phillimon (29 March 2015). "Male prostitution growing in Botswana". The Patriot on Sunday. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
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