9 social media sex workers nabbed as cop fakes hiring them for sex
By Caleb Chikwawawa
Nine sex workers who were advertising their services on social media were arrested following a police raid at their place of operation in Harare.
The raid started when one of the police officers walked into them pretending to be scouting a sex worker to hire for the service.
According to a statement by the National Prosecuting Authority, the women aged between 19 and 27, were sentenced on Saturday for soliciting for prostitution.
They were each sentenced to a fine of US$30 after they all tendered guilty pleas at the Harare Magistrates’ Court. In default of payment, they were set to each serve 1 month imprisonment.
“The women were arrested on the 2nd of May 2025, following an operation conducted by the ZRP at the women’s place of business” said the NPAZ.
“Police conducted the operation following information received about online advertisements on social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook soliciting for prostitution.
“The online adverts offered massage and sexual services for a prescribed fee and listed the given address as the business location.
“An undercover police officer visited the premises as a potential client. He was then directed to a bedroom where the 9 women presented themselves in a semi-naked state.
“At this point, the undercover officer revealed his identity, and other police officers who were part of the operation entered the premises and the women were subsequently arrested,” read the statement.
