A FEW years ago, Kaniki in Ndola was a small farming community near Sakanya Border between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The story of some local women who have started indulging in sexual activities with truck drivers crossing the border in area, in exchange for money, makes sad news for the community.
This has prompted calls for all stakeholders to put in measures to curb the negative social vices.
Poverty and income inequality can increase a woman’s decision to engage in risky sexual behaviour that might lead to serious consequences for herself and the community, such as violence, human trafficking and the spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

Borders normally provide opportunities for trade and other economic activities.
They help to improve people’s wellbeing mostly through trade and social interactions.
Arising from such opportunities, a number of women are now involved in cross border trading.
They engage in buying or selling a whole range of goods and services, leading to the creation of informal distribution networks that help to sustain livelihoods.
But the opening of Sakanya Border in order to reduce congestion at Kasumbalesa Border in Chililabombwe, will not only facilitate trade and transit into and out of DRC, but it will also create social activities around the border towns.
Truck drivers normally spend weeks on their routes.
These drivers are regarded as a vulnerable group of people that are sexually active and at risk because of the mobile nature of their job which often leads them to greater exposure to health risks.
Despite Sakania not having the infrastructure for the new economic activities that have sprung up, local women have started engaging in providing sexual services in exchange for money.
Kaniki Ward councilor is aware about the social vices that take place when economic opportunities are opened up in border areas.
Simaate Akapelwa said the development of the new border has put civic leaders under pressure because there is heavy flow of traffic involving truck drivers and as a result, negative vices are now on the rise.
Mr Akapelwa said the negative social vices that have started taking place pose a challenge because in as much as the local women are getting involved in the activities willingly, society does not have to be silent about it as these actions will require leaders to take action and put measures in place.
He said what the area will require in the short term will be more sensitisation among the community, including young girls who are usually vulnerable as the fight against HIV is still active.
“Kaniki is a small community with small scale farmers and that is their main economic livelihood that sustains a number of households.
However, Sakanya Kamalasha is also a small township near the border that harbours former labourers of the Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO). As civic leaders, we need all stakeholders to come and help us address the social issues that have
started manifesting due to the opening of the border as we wait for proper infrastructure to be put in place,” he said.
It is important to know that, what is happening in Sakanya is different from the prostitution that is common in other areas where revelers go to bars and night clubs to indulge in adult pleasures, the story in Kaniki is different.
The women involved market themselves by frequenting local bottle stores at the border even in the day time.
A local resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said it is clear that many of the women who patronise the parking areas and the local bottle stores are under tremendous financial pressure to keep their children fed or to assist their families.
“What is sad is that some of these women from the surrounding compound are married, but they decide to sell their bodies in exchange for money. Among some truckers noted for being mischievous here are those from Zambia as well as some of the countries in the region who are known for their heavy drinking both during the day and night time as they wait to be cleared at the border,” the resident said.
A former HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) community volunteer in one of the border towns in Zambia said the nature of work that cross border truckers engage in requires them to spend long hours driving and that puts them at risk of STDs.
Lwimba Chungu said mobility is a major factor in the spread of STIs like HIV and others across different geographical locations.
“There are programmes conducted in border towns concerning awareness on sexual behaviour among the local communities and their interactions with truck drivers passing through Zambia.
However, what is mostly revealed is that unmarried truck drivers who stay away from home for more than 15 days are significantly more likely to engage in sexual activities than married drivers,” he said
Apart from waiting to be cleared at the border, the driver’s also stopover in border towns along the highways where there are restaurants, bars, lodges and meet women and young girls who offer sexual services.
Mr Chungu said the challenge that activists have encountered is providing sustained prevention messages from sexual health campaigns because most of the truck drivers are never interested and are difficult to locate as they wait to be cleared.
He said sensitising the drivers on the frequency of condom use is a factor because consistent condom use is the main strategy aimed at preventing individuals from acquiring HIV through sexual activities.
In addition, with the opening of Sakanya Border, there will be need to have sustained programmes by stakeholders who will need to educate the drivers and community members on HIV and STI prevention besides promoting condom use, STI screening and treatment, and HIV testing.
It is important to note that international borders have always harboured transient people who move from different areas in their quest to trade.
Nevertheless, the sexual activities manifesting due to the opening of Sakanya Border in Kaniki area clearly need all stake holders to put measures in place before the rate of HIV/AIDS starts rising in Ndola and Copperbelt in general.
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