Unemployment, lack of decent basic amenities such as sewer reticulation, roads, schools and proper health facilities are some of the daily realities for the residents of Hopley, an impoverished settlement on the outskirts of Harare.
The residents of Hopley are mostly descendants of Malawian migrant workers, who were employed as farm laborers prior the land reform program.
The majority came from what was known as Porter farm and settled in the area now Hopley, after the farm was acquired for resettlement purposes at the height of the land reform program, at the turn of the millennium.
Some of the residents however, came from other parts of Harare, after the destruction of backyard cottages during operation murambatsvina in 2005.
Operation murambatsvina was a widely reviled government program aimed at removing illegal structures in residential areas and resulted in the loss of homes for many poor urban dwellers. Many of these people then settled in places like Hopley, where they found shelter.
Two months ago, Hopley and the entire Harare South constituency were enveloped in shock and grief after the gruesome murder of popular sex worker Mary Kapuka, better known as Movhado.
Kapuka, who left behind a two month old baby girl was among a generation of unemployed youths in Hopley, who ended up taking thigh vending as an alternative..
She was reportedly also addicted to drugs and involved in their sale.
At her funeral, her colleagues and friends openly admitted to prostitution and using drugs such as crystal meth (mutoriro /guka makafela).
“We started smoking crystal meth 2yrs ago, Mary was also a drug addict,” said Mary’s friend Memory. “We used to smoke together.”
“Yes I smoke crystal meth, everyone here uses the drug as we are unemployed and have nothing else to do, we use drugs to cope”, said Sasha, another one of the late Mary’s friends.
Drug selling and thigh vending have become the default root of employment for most youths in this neglected part of Harare. These two vices have become something of a lifestyle.
The area has also seen a sharp increase in theft, house breakings, muggings, robberies and child marriages.
Many residents in the densely populated settlement of Hopely bemoaned the drug and prostitution scourges, calling on the authorities to intervene and address the situation.
“Both Drug Section and police should operate in Hopely to reduce the crime rate which is on the rise,” said one of the residents .
They accused special constabulary police details of corruption and creating an enabling environment for drug dealers to operate in the community, claiming that drug dealers allegedly bribe special constabulary details to turn a blind eye to criminal activity in the area.
“Drug bases should be cleared,” said Ronica a Hopley resident.”All the perpetrators should face justice.”
The residents also added that the area has become a hub of criminal activity and child marriages, with children as young as 9yrs allegedly being married off to adults.
“Young girls are eloping daily,” said one of the residents. “This has killed our community and the future for Hopley is bleak.”
Anti Drug organisations also bemoaned the increase of substance abuse among thigh vendors and youths in Hopley saying it is contributing to the spreading of sexual transmitted diseases( STDs).
Executive Director For Youths By Youths anti-drug organisation Wilbert Jena said: “HIV/AIDS and other STIs are on the rise in places where thigh vendors are into drugs and action should be taken”