HARARE – Human rights organization Springs of Life Zimbabwe has intensified its call for greater protection, healthcare access, and legal reforms for sex workers, arguing that criminalization continues to expose thousands to violence, extortion, and discrimination while denying them access to justice.
In a statement, Precious Msindo, the organization’s programmes coordinator highlighted the daily realities faced by many sex workers who are forced to live under the constant threat of arbitrary arrests, extortion, harassment, and targeted physical assaults. According to the group, criminalization remains the greatest structural barrier to safety and equality, turning survivors of abuse into targets rather than protecting their rights.
“Today, June 2nd, as the global community commemorates International Sex Workers’ Day, Springs of Life Zimbabwe—a sex worker-led human rights organization— stands in proud solidarity with sex workers nationwide.
On this significant milestone, we release a dual mandate of celebration and systemic agitation: voicing profound appreciation for the recent milestones in equitable public healthcare, while decisively pivoting to a strict posture of advocacy to bridge the gap between scientific inclusion and genuine legal protection,” said Msindo.
She announced a shift in focus from celebration and awareness campaigns toward what it described as “unyielding, multi-sectoral advocacy for Access to Justice,” arguing that legal and institutional reforms are necessary if healthcare interventions are to achieve their intended impact.
Central to her organisation’s demands is the equitable distribution of Lenacapavir, a promising HIV prevention and treatment intervention.
“We express our deepest, sincere appreciation for the historic strides made toward expanding inclusive, non-judgmental, and life-saving health interventions.
In a monumental victory for evidence-based equity, we celebrate the ground-breaking prioritization of Lenacapavir—the long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—for sex workers,” said Msindo.
Springs of Life Zimbabwe called on global pharmaceutical companies, local distributors, and international aid organizations to ensure the medication is made available at affordable and transparent prices for low- and middle-income countries.
She also urged stakeholders to accelerate the development of generic alternatives and support local manufacturing initiatives to reduce dependence on international supply chains and monopolies.
Beyond healthcare access, Msindo renewed her organization’s call for the decriminalization of sex work in Zimbabwe, arguing that existing laws do not reduce exploitation but instead create conditions that allow perpetrators of violence and abuse to operate with impunity.
“Punitive and outdated legal frameworks actively prevent sex workers from reporting violent crimes, accessing court services, and exercising their civil liberties,” she noted.
She further called for comprehensive reforms within the Zimbabwe Republic Police, urging an end to unlawful profiling, arbitrary arrests, and extortion targeting sex workers and demanded impartial investigations into reported assaults and violence against members of the community.
Msindo also emphasized the importance of community-led healthcare delivery, advocating for decentralized distribution systems for Lenacapavir and broader Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) services. According to the organization, peer-led networks are better positioned to provide trusted, stigma-free access to healthcare and support services.
Despite ongoing challenges, Msindo paid tribute to sex workers, community organizers, and human rights defenders who continue to advocate for visibility, dignity, and equal rights.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to challenging exclusion and discrimination, pledging to continue its advocacy efforts until sex workers are fully recognized and protected under the law.
