By Admore Mbonda, Kariba
In Kariba town and its surrounding fishing camps, the sight of young girls frequenting bars has become disturbingly common.
Behind this trend lies a heartbreaking reality: extreme poverty and limited opportunities are pushing these girls into the arms of older men—so-called “sugar daddies”—who exploit their vulnerability with promises of financial support.
Kariba, a tourist town nestled by the lake, faces significant economic challenges. Poverty looms large, with statistics showing a shocking poverty rate of 50.1%.
Many families scrape by on uncertain incomes from fishing and tourism, industries that are both seasonal and unpredictable.
For some, survival has meant turning to desperate measures, including transactional relationships that expose young girls to exploitation.
The town’s inadequate infrastructure, such as poor roads and limited social services, exacerbates the problem, cutting off residents from better opportunities. With few paths to escape poverty, many teenagers are lured into bars, where sugar daddies offer money and gifts in exchange for their company.
Elen Vhengere, director of the local nonprofit organization Toan Waite, is deeply concerned about the growing crisis.
“It’s essential to engage the community and educate people about the dangers these girls face. We need to empower them with skills, education, and opportunities that provide real alternatives to exploitation,” she said.
To tackle this issue, Vhengere and her organization advocate for a multi-pronged approach. This includes:
Education and Empowerment: Programs focused on providing girls with vocational training and access to education to help them build better futures.
Strengthening Child Protection: Enhancing the capacity of social services and law enforcement to combat child exploitation and support victims.
Community Involvement: Working with bar owners to enforce age restrictions and raising awareness among local residents about the risks these girls face.
“It’s heartbreaking to see these young girls losing their childhoods. We need leaders to prioritize initiatives that protect them and create a safer environment,” Vhengere urged.
Kariba’s story is a reminder of the importance of addressing the root causes of exploitation—poverty, lack of education, and economic inequality.
With collective effort, Kariba’s vulnerable girls can be empowered to dream bigger, live safer, and reclaim their future.
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