Nine Zimbabwean Women Face Court Over Online ‘Bedroom Treatment’ Adverts
Nine Zimbabwean Women Face Court Over Online ‘Bedroom Treatment’ Adverts – Nine Zimbabwean women are currently facing legal proceedings at the Harare Magistrates Court for allegedly violating national laws by advertising intimate and massage services via social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp.
The women, whose identities have not yet been disclosed, appeared in court visibly distressed.
A widely circulated court video showed them shielding their faces and weeping during the proceedings.
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The footage quickly sparked public reactions online, with opinions divided over whether the women deserve punishment or rehabilitation.
Under Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, it is an offense to advertise or offer sexual services.
However, the rise of digital platforms has seen a surge in informal and unregulated promotions of such services, complicating enforcement efforts for authorities.
Legal experts say the internet has created a grey area, where laws are struggling to keep pace with digital trends.
Social media users and legal commentators have expressed mixed feelings about the arrests. Some argue that socio-economic hardship is pushing women into such practices and that the court should consider rehabilitation programs rather than imprisonment.
Others insist that the law must be upheld to preserve moral standards and public order.
A similar crackdown occurred in South Africa last year, when Cape Town authorities arrested six women and a male accomplice for operating an illegal online escort service.
The operation, which was conducted in collaboration with the Cybercrime Unit, revealed a network of fake massage parlours advertised on social media and classified websites.
The suspects were charged under the Sexual Offenses Act and Electronic Communications and Transactions Act for promoting prostitution and using digital platforms to conduct illegal business.
Back in Zimbabwe, the case involving the nine women remains under investigation, with the court expected to continue hearing submissions from both the prosecution and defense in the coming weeks.
Authorities have hinted that more arrests could follow, as efforts intensify to clamp down on online advertisements for intimate services.
