Africa's Governmental Officials and Patronage of Prostitutes
- Ernie J. Burgher and SitiTalkBlog
- Jul 11, 2016
- 4 min read
Image Credit: Public Domain
Prostitution is illegal in most African countries, though frequently common practice because of widespread poverty and it is one of the drivers of the prevalence of HIV infections and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Almost all African governments do not have a system in place that tackles the persistence of prostitution. Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal permit the functioning of brothels, while others like Zambia, Mali, Namibia, Mozambique, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso do not permit the functioning of brothels however legal. As in many parts of the world, it is common practice especially in most countries in the sub- Saharan Africa region for a woman or girl to have multiple sexual relationships which are purely transactional, mostly between older men and young girls; and also older men and young men, older women and young men; older women and young girls; in the capacity of teacher- student, person in authority- laywomen; and so on. These relationships are mainly for financial or favor seeking reasons. African government officials are frequently known to abuse their power and intimidate weak citizens especially women for sex. Many of the African government officials routinely engage the services of street prostitutes, or have prostitutes arranged discreetly for them by well paid “Madams” or “government pimps” who arrange for them young High School (mostly under age) or college students who function as “official prostitutes”.
Prostitution in Africa can be said to be illegal to please the moral conscience of the society while in widespread transactional relationships persist. This “social malaise culture” is deep in the marrow of those who patronize prostitutes, especially government officials who desire a ‘good time’ within or outside their states of residence in their home country, or any time they make trips abroad.
On June 9, 2016, the Unites States ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle addressed a letter to the speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara alleging three Nigerian law makers from the House of Representative; Mohammed Garba Gallo, Samuel Ikon, and Mark Gbillah had, while in the United States, for the International Visitor Leadership Program, solicited for sex from prostitutes and grabbed a hotel housekeeper in an attempt to persuade her to consent to intercourse. The three House members have denied all allegations and are threatening legal action for “character defamation and an attempt to ridicule the National Assembly”. The speaker of the house is yet to set up a committee to investigate these allegations and report to the house on the conduct of the three house members
These allegations by the U.S ambassador are serious and not to be taken likely; it is a U.S state department policy that such allegations are properly investigated before taken public. They understand what is at stake and recognize how it might sour relations between both countries. According to The Punch; lawyers in the name of Mr. Malachy Ugwummadu and Mr. Jite Ogunye and activist in the name of Smart Ajaja have separately called for either a resignation or a recall of the three house members. Sexual misconduct though a misdemeanor is very damaging to the image of its perpetrators. It questions their integrity and makes nonsense of any principle they stand for; if they doubt it they should take a look at the Dominique Strauss kahn case.
In the South of the continent, the current President of South Africa Jacob Zuma in 2005 and as vice President was prosecuted for rape. He confirmed he had unprotected sex with the alleged victim whom to his knowledge was HIV positive but refused raping. Mr. Zuma was found not guilty of rape and his accuser was granted asylum in the Netherlands. He stated further in his trial that he immediately took a shower after intercourse to aid prevent from contracting AIDS, he was consequently bashed by the local media and south African comedians by such suggestions.
With African government officials, there seems to be a recurring pattern or an air of rape hovering around their sexual activities. One questions the tactics they use when on the prowl for young girls. Is it that they get too comfortable with the lifestyle of transactional intercourse that they get lost in it and think the world rotates that way or is it the adage of everything having a price playing a trick on them? Was this the inspiration behind Charles Taylor; the former president of Liberia, who in May 2012 was found guilty by the International Criminal Court on eleven counts including war crimes, crimes against humanity, terror, murder and rape, to give out ill-gotten diamonds to top beauties like Naomi Campbell?
Through the street of Oxford Road in Johannesburg South Africa and through Aminu Kano crescent, Wuse II, Abuja Nigeria; when night is out, women patrol these streets, flashy cars with tinted glasses tap their breaks as they drive up and a brief conversation is made before the lady hops in. The discreet owners of these cars are known by only themselves and the “ladies of the night” who ride with them. Here is what we know; we know those rich enough to buy those cars, we see them use different car models everyday they go to work, we see them as they pass viciously through our potholes, only they can afford a tint over their window glass and the special authorization required to allow a tint.
In many African countries individuals know who can afford to provide a demand which brings the supply of "nightwalkers" to a point of necessity however illegal. The prostitutes know who their main customers are and they include many government officials, and they too know who the prostitutes are.
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Ernie J. Burgher is a bi-lingual freelance journalist and author, and speaks English and French. Ernie writes for SitiTalkBlog.
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