Jane Mlambo| Social media has gone into overdrive over deputy information minister Energy Mutodi’s remarks that sex workers are at high risk of person to person transmission of coronavirus discouraging the hiring of the ladies of the night to combat the spread of the deadly pandemic.

Posting on Twitter yesterday, Mutodi discouraged the hiring of sex workers as part of measures to combat coronavirus.

“As we launch the Coronavirus National Preparedness Campaign, we are discouraging close personal contact in queues including the hiring of sex workers. Sex workers are at high risk of person to person transmission & can spread the virus quickly in urban areas & growth points,” said Mutodi.

Responding to Mutodi, social media users felt the remarks were off the mark especially coming from a top government official.

“Is this the best Govt have to offer? How do we go from queues to sex workers?
And now we decide to target and start a blame game on a group that have nothing to do with COVID transmission.
Maybe to distract that most don’t have access to clean water to wash hands?
Disgraceful,” said Nancy Kachingwe.

That Kalanga said, “ZUPCO buses which are always overloaded are operating as usual, that seems like a higher risk but y’all are quiet about that. I would be more worried about that. But then again priorities have never been the govt’s strongest point.”

Girl Child Network founder, Betty Makoni told Mutodi to get WHO guidelines instead of stereotyping sex workers.

“Get guidelines FROM WHO. Everyone can be affected. You should not stereotype and put vulnerable group of women at risk. Everyone is affected,” said Makoni.