Staff Reporter
The rapid rise of tobacco auction floors in Mvurwi, a farming town in Mashonaland Central Province, has brought both economic opportunity and serious public health challenges.
Authorities are sounding the alarm over a spike in HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), directly linked to increased commercial sex activity in the area.
Currently home to 13 tobacco auction floors, Mvurwi has become a hotspot for transactional sex, driven by seasonal income flows and high mobility.
This concern took centre stage during a sensitisation meeting for provincial heads of departments held in the town on Tuesday.
National AIDS Council’s Provincial Manager, Mr Edgar Muzulu, emphasised that in this Province, commercial sex work is high, especially in Mazowe and particularly in Mvurwi.
“In December 2024, Suoguru Clinic in Mvurwi recorded 345 cases of STIs out of 417 people tested. Alarmingly, 67 were HIV positive. Similarly, at Tsungubvi Clinic, 424 STI cases were recorded, with 37 testing HIV positive,” he said.
Health officials attribute the rising infections to an influx of traders, transporters, and seasonal workers during the tobacco marketing season, creating demand for sex work.
The lure of quick money, combined with limited access to sexual health education and services in rural areas, exacerbates the situation.
Mashonaland Central Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Christopher Magomo, urged stakeholders to take a holistic approach in addressing the growing crisis.
“Our response to HIV must not be fragmented. It must be multi-dimensional and integrated, incorporating interventions that address the root causes, including links with non-communicable diseases, sexual and reproductive health rights, and drug abuse,” he emphasised.
In response to the worrying statistics, the National AIDS Council and its partners are stepping up interventions.
These include community-based, peer-led awareness campaigns, increased availability of HIV testing and counselling services, and expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) programmes.
Local health institutions are also working closely with community leaders to reach high-risk populations, particularly young women and seasonal workers.
While the economic benefits of tobacco farming are undeniable, health experts stress the need for simultaneous investment in public health infrastructure and education in order to mitigate the unintended social consequences of rapid economic development.
As the tobacco industry continues to flourish in Mvurwi, a balanced approach is needed to ensure that prosperity does not come at the cost of public health.
