KASANE - Some Kasane residents have called for the formulation of laws to protect commercial sex workers.

The residents, who attended a kgotla meeting for a public hearing on HIV/AIDS, called for such a law.

Nfila Van der Lief told the parliamentary committee that conducted the hearings that commercial sex workers needed laws that would ensure that they operated under a safe environment.

Van der Lief said the illegal trade which took place at the Kazungula border post was done at unsafe places.

She said clients harassed and sometimes failed to pay sex workers, police did not take action because the trade was illegal.

She also said the government should legalise prostitution so that the laws could protect the sex workers.

Another resident said prostitution is there, we cant pretend it does not exist, and must therefore be legalised to make it safe.

We can not shun commercial sex workers, they are forced to take the trade because of circumstances beyond their control so we urge the government to make their operation safe, she said.

However, Kgosi Moffat Mwezi said legalising commercial sex work was for developed countries because they had the capacity and resources to manage and control it.

Kgosi Mwezi said instead of legalising commercial sex work, government must devise better ways of assisting people in economic difficulties.

Mr Mwanota Kachana, the chairperson of the Chobe District Council, said prostitution was a sin and should not be legalised.

We should not fall into temptation by formulating laws for people to sin, otherwise nature will fight us, he said.

The MP for Gaborone North, Mr Keletso Rakhudu, said commercial sex was more pronounced in towns and cities because of the high cost of living, and was practised by citizens who deserved protection by the law.

The parliamentary committee, in colloboration with NACA, the Ministry of Health and the SADC Parliamentary Forum, is conducting public hearings on HIV/AIDS aimed at providing, obtaining and facilitating exchange of information.

Source: Republic of Botswana - Gaberones,Botswana