*Councillors split as sex work debate refuses to stay in the dark*Bunga-Bunga back on the table as civic leaders call for regulation Calls for the liberalisation of adult entertainment and sex work in Botswana are growing louder, after a similar motion to regulate the industry crashed and burned in Gaborone last week. Francistown councilors have since thrown a spanner in the works, demanding an open and honest debate on the subject. Itekeng Ward Councilor Lesego Kwambala has accused policymakers in the country’s second city, of avoiding controversial issues and choosing silence over engagement.
“We should not shy away from these issues. We cannot remain silent while people are being exploited,” argued Kwambala. The fiery councilor and former Deputy Mayor of Francistown said it was hypocritical to pretend that adult entertainment does not exist when the reality suggests otherwise.
“People my age who go out at night receive free lap dances. This is the reality. Instead of offering free entertainment, these young women should have clean and safe spaces where they can operate and be paid for their talents,” he said.
Read Full Article on The Voice
[paywall]
Kwambala urged Francistown councilors to revisit the case of Titose Thipe, who was denied an operating license for his ‘Bunga-Bunga’ business, a one-stop adult entertainment centre catering to the city’s nightlife crowd. “We should find a way to facilitate this, or if we cannot, then we must be clear and ban sex work altogether,” he said. Kwambala believes it is better to regulate sex work and adult entertainment rather than allow the industry to operate in the city’s dark alleys.
“Batswana cross into neighbouring countries to access these services. This proves that there is a market in the country. They frequent places like Private Lounge in Bulawayo, where they pay for premium services,” he said.
“We cannot keep charging sex workers for loitering, that is not what they are doing. Give them safe spaces where they can work with dignity. The law is currently silent; in fact, sex work is not even illegal, which is why people are only charged with loitering,” fired Kwambala.
[/paywall]
