Staff Reporter
LEAD President Linda Tsungirirai Masarira has strongly condemned the open promotion of sex trafficking and pimping in Zimbabwe following a viral interview on DJ Sparks' (real name Trust Nyatsanga) podcast.
The controversial episode featured a 23-year-old woman who openly confessed to running a “hook-up business” connecting girls with men, raising serious concerns about the normalisation of criminal behaviour through digital platforms.
In a statement released on Thursday, Masarira called for the immediate arrest and investigation of the woman, accusing her of openly promoting illegal activities, including the potential trafficking of minors.
“It is both alarming and deeply disturbing that such criminal activities are being publicly promoted without fear of legal consequences,” she said.
The woman, who remains unnamed, admitted during the interview to being a pimp and revealed that some of the girls she recruits may be underage, referring to them as a “back-up plan”. The admission has sparked nationwide outrage, with many Zimbabweans calling for urgent intervention.
“Let it be unequivocally clear: human trafficking, including the exploitation of minors for sex, is a criminal offence under the Trafficking in Persons Act [Chapter 9:25]. Sexual activities involving minors, regardless of consent, constitute statutory rape,” Masarira stated.
She urged the Zimbabwe Republic Police to urgently act on the matter.
“We therefore call upon the Zimbabwe Republic Police @PoliceZimbabwe to immediately apprehend and investigate this woman for potential child trafficking and sexual exploitation and to trace and rescue the girls she claims to have recruited,” she demanded.
Masarira further appealed to government agencies and civil society to collaborate in dismantling any existing sex trafficking networks and to protect young women from exploitative ventures. “We must fight to build a society where young women are empowered, protected, and given equal access to economic opportunities,” she said.
Meanwhile, social commentators and activists have expressed outrage at what they described as the increasing recklessness of some content creators.
“We need to have serious conversations about the role of media in shaping public morality. Government must take stern action against journalists and podcasters who use their platforms to promote immorality and glorify crime,” said Petronella Mahachi, a women’s rights activist based in Harare.
Another concerned citizen, Jacob Matare, added, “Freedom of expression should never be a licence to normalise criminality. These podcast hosts must be held accountable for giving a platform to such dangerous narratives.”
As calls for legal action grow louder, pressure is mounting on authorities to take decisive steps to ensure justice and reaffirm Zimbabwe’s commitment to protecting its citizens from exploitation.
