By Talent Gondo| Children under 18 years are engaging in prostitution for survival while many have dropped out of school over nonpayment of fees by their parents following failure by Hwange  Colliery to honor its obligation to pay workers’ salaries for the past 5 years.

This emerged at a discussion held at the Media Centre organised by the Women and Law in Southern Africa (WILSA) in Harare today where a representative of the protesting women narrated their challenges.

“Our children are bringing food obviously sourced through prostitution and some are suffering from syphilis,” said Thobekile Shoko, spokesperson of the striking women.

Shoko said the salaries impasse had also resulted in men failing to take charge of their responsibilities and families continued disintegrating since the workers had not been paid for the last 5 years.

“We are literally being pushed into prostitution to put food on the table and our husbands have no say because they also need to eat,” said Shoko.

Paurina Mpariwa, who chairs the Public Accounts Parliamentary Pottfolio Committees said it was heart rending to hear the challenges being experienced by the women and children adding that more needs to be done to address these challenges.

“There is need for solidarity with these women and children and as a country we need to ensure that our women and children are protected as enshrined in the Constitution,” said Mpariwa.