Bulawayo’s hidden secret: Ngozi Mine where girls are trained how to sell lula lula

Bulawayo – A sense of unease hangs heavy over Ngozi Mine, one of Bulawayo’s largest squatter camps, as reports of young girls being lured into sex work continue to surface.

The community is gripped by fear, with whispers of a local woman, known for her violent behaviour, orchestrating a dangerous and exploitative network.

Amahle Moyo (20)*, who lives in the squatter camp with her three younger sisters, has become the voice of a community grappling with despair. She revealed that her sisters have been sneaking out at night to meet with the woman who is allegedly behind the sex work syndicate, Newsday has reported.

“I have decided to come and report this to the village head with my other neighbour,” Moyo said.

“We have a serious situation here where one lady is taking our siblings and teaching them sex work. The issue has happened twice. At first we thought maybe these girls had made a mistake. Then the second time we saw, it happened today and its the third time we are being forced to come and report this.”

Moyo’s concerns are echoed by other residents who fear for the safety of their children.

“We are scared of confronting her as she is known here to be a violent woman. She insults everyone and she can do anything. We fear for these kids because you never know what might happen to them out there, whether they might get into fights or get stabbed or get infected with HIV,” said one resident.

The woman’s influence extends beyond the immediate threat of sex work. The community is also battling with widespread drug addiction and substance abuse, which disrupt daily life and undermine efforts to create a safe and supportive environment for young people.

“We have a lot of issues here, some teenage mothers are now home wreckers and they forget where they are coming from. This is really sad and we don’t allow such in the community. In our community, we value mutual respect among our members,” said Sithembile Ndlovu-Tshuma, the village head.

The community’s struggles are further compounded by the economic difficulties facing Zimbabwe. Many families have been forced to relocate to informal settlements like Ngozi Mine, seeking a better life. However, the harsh realities of poverty and limited opportunities often lead to desperate measures.

“Owing to economic difficulties in Zimbabwe, some families and young women have decided to move to the informal settlement, a few kilometres from the city centre. They are surviving by recycling metal scraps and other materials from the dumpsite,” said Moyo.

The situation at Ngozi Mine is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by young people in Zimbabwe, particularly those living in poverty. The lack of access to education, employment opportunities, and adequate support systems creates a fertile ground for exploitation.

Moyo’s fear is not unfounded. The woman’s alleged activities are not only putting her sisters at risk of physical harm and sexually transmitted infections, but also threaten to derail their educational aspirations. One of Moyo’s sisters is receiving vital donor funding for her education, but her involvement in sex work could jeopardise her future.

“If the donor hears about her behaviour she will lose her sponsorship. Of late she has not been performing well at school,” said Moyo.

The village head, Sithembile Ndlovu-Tshuma, has vowed to hold the woman accountable for her actions.

“I have been told about the issue and we will sit with her because she is a bad apple in the community. A serious decision will be made and actually asking her to leave this area,” said Ndlovu-Tshuma.

The community is calling for immediate action to address the crisis at Ngozi Mine. They are urging authorities to investigate the allegations of sex work, provide support to vulnerable youth, and create a safer environment for all residents.