A storm of public outrage has erupted after a podcast aired by social media personality DJ Sparks featured a 23-year-old woman openly boasting about operating a pimping and “hook-up” business in Zimbabwe, with chilling suggestions that some of the girls she recruits may be underage.
The explosive podcast episode comes amid growing concern over the digital promotion of s*x work in Zimbabwe.
Just recently, nine women were convicted for advertising s*xual and massage services online, in violation of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act.
Harare Magistrate Winfilder Tiatara fined each of the women US$30 and imposed a three-month suspended sentence, conditional on good behaviour for the next five years.
In her podcast interview, the self-proclaimed ‘Queen Mother’ justified her illegal enterprise by citing a lack of employment opportunities, while referring to underage girls as a “back-up plan” in her network—a remark that raised immediate alarm among legal and child protection circles.
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In response, democracy activists, legal watchdogs, and human rights defenders have flooded social media, demanding swift police action and an investigation into the podcast revelations.
Leader of the Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) Tsungirirai Masarira, issued a scathing statement calling for the arrest of the woman and a full investigation into what she described as a potential sex trafficking ring.
“It is both alarming and deeply disturbing that such criminal activities are being publicly promoted without fear of legal consequences,” Masarira said.
“We are potentially looking at human trafficking and child exploitation happening in plain sight.”
“Human trafficking, including the exploitation of minors for sex, is a criminal offense under the Trafficking in Persons Act.
“This woman’s confession implicates her in serious crimes, including statutory rape and child exploitation.”
She called on the Zimbabwe Republic Police to urgently apprehend the woman, trace the girls mentioned, and coordinate with relevant ministries and civil society groups to rescue victims and dismantle any sex trafficking networks.
Masarira also urged the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the National Prosecuting Authority to closely monitor the matter and ensure full justice is served.
To this end, no statement has been made from the authorities concerning the issue.
