MOST car parks in Harare’s suburbs have been turned into
love nests by commercial sex workers who find it cheaper for their clients to
pay the attendants $3 per hour than spending at least $65 at lodges.
Motorists, mostly those who do not have reliable security
at their homes, rely on car parks where they pay for the security of their
vehicles daily.
Charges for the security of these vehicles vary with car
parks. While car parks play a crucial role in securing vehicles, hookers found
it cheaper and convenient to conduct their business there at night.
In the past, couples used to book at local lodges or
hotels, but the skyrocketing charges have forced them to improvise and utilise
car parks.
Ladies of the night and their clients just drive into the
yard and pay an entry fee of $3, which is valid for an hour.
The practice is prevalent at night and the car park owners
may not be aware of the shenanigans.
A car park next to Maruta Shopping Centre in Hatfield,
along Seke Road is usually a busy spot at night as couples drive in for intimacy.
Prostitutes, mainly from Jongwe Corner Bar and others from
Maruta shopping centre and Paramount Signature, are the major clients at the
car park in question.
The youthful male attendant comes out of the cabin that is
closer to the gate and talks to the hookers, who appear familiar to him.
He demands his $3 before showing the lovebirds a secluded
area to park their vehicle, usually behind big trucks.
The couples will enjoy an uninterrupted hour of intimacy.
However, The Herald noticed that some would just spend 10
minutes and leave before the expiry of the paid for hour.
It is indeed a lucrative business for attendants as they
pocket $3 fees throughout the night.
During a week-long investigation, The Herald counted the
vehicles that got into the car park and recorded almost 90 vehicles for a
single night between 9pm and 2am, each paying at least $3.
A few pedestrian couples would also walk into the yard
where they paid the fee before being ushered into some non-runner vehicles.
The Herald interviewed a number of prostitutes along Seke
Road who said their clients preferred the car park because it was cheaper and
lodges were now beyond their reach.
“The car park is cheaper and convenient for us. Clients who
pay us about $30 for a brief encounter, find it difficult to pay a further $50
for a lodge.
“It is better to for me to get my money and use the car
park,” said one of the sex workers. Another one said the car park was closer to
Jongwe and it was convenient for their business.
“I stay in Epworth and I cannot go home with a client who
requires my services for a few minutes. It is more convenient to get into the
car park and quickly come back here to look for more clients,” she said.
A survey carried out by this publication revealed that
lodges considered to be affordable are charging between $50 and $90 an hour and
between $150 and $200 per night.
Mugoni Lodge charges $50 for those who would want to book
for a short period between 30 minute and one hour while those who want to book
for the entire night will have to part with $140.
City to City Haven charges $90 per hour and one would fork
out $190 for a night.
These charges are beyond the reach of many couples, who end
up being regular guests at car parks.
Car park attendants are said to be making a killing from
these hookers.
“Yes, many times we use these car parks for our services.
Lodges are expensive for some of our clients who frequent this area. So we negotiate
with car park attendants who charge $3 for a brief encounter in any of the cars
available on that particular night.
In Mufakose, another sex worker who thought this reporter
was a client, was quick to point to a nearby car park as the best place for a
“quickie”.
She even offered to pay the $3 to the car park attendant.
“I always use that car park for brief encounters. If you
are interested let us go right away. I will pay the $3, and you give me $20,”
she said.
Some car park attendants confirmed to the development
saying they were making money out of it.
“On a good day, we realise up to $300, which we equally
share with my two colleagues. We have an understanding with kombi drivers who
leave their vehicles unlocked. We then offer them to those who come here
without their own vehicles.
“Motorists who come here, just drive in and do whatever
they want to do in their cars,” he said.
Another one said: “We charge them $3 per hour, but on busy days we demand as
much as $10. Our busy days are Fridays and Saturdays. We also give the kombi
crews a token of appreciation.” Herald
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