Prostitution in Zambia is legal [ 1 ] [ 2 ] and common. In Lusaka, some prostitutes enrol in colleges to obtain a campus room to work from. Zambia has a huge problem relating to child prostitution. Prior to the arrival of the Europeans, prostitution occurred along the long-distance trade routes, especially around the rest houses. From , the number of Europeans settling in Zambia increased greatly.
Starting from in the s, many men moved from the rural areas to the emerging industrial areas to find work. Some worked in the tin and lead mines at Kabwe , others worked on the construction of the Livingstone to Katanga railway.
These men. In the s and s, large scale mining in the Copperbelt was established. The mine workers created a huge demand for prostitution. The prostitutes also cooked and washed for the miners and were known as 'comfort women'. By , STIs were highly prevalent amongst migrant workers. The Native Authorities expelled all unmarried women from migrant worker's camps in the Copperbelt. The Colonial Government set up blockades at bus stops and transit routes in in an attempt to stop the prostitutes travelling to the areas men were working in.
Thee Mulobezi β Mongu trail in the Western Province was particularly known for its brothels. Following Zambia's win over Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations 's semi-final, many prostitutes offered supporters free sex as part of the celebrations. HIV is a major problem in Zambia, with the 7th highest prevalence in the world.
Condom use is low, partly due to a belief that circumcised men can't spread the infection. Zambia is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking. While orphans and street children are most vulnerable, children of affluent village families are also at risk of trafficking because sending children to the city for work is perceived to confer status.
