A prostitute in Zimbabwe beat a client around the head with a beer bottle after he offered to pay for Intimacy with a boiled egg, in an incident that has since gone viral and sparked debate about economic hardship and respect.
Moses Mushonga, 28, approached the Intimacy worker in the town of Mvurwi in Mashonaland province, according to local reports.
Witnesses say Mushonga first manhandled the 23-year-old woman, identified only as Chipo, by leaning into her bra and touching her breast without consent. The action did not endear him to her. To add insult to injury, he then tried to haggle with what he claimed was his only asset.
Mushonga told her he had just spent his last bit of money on buying two boiled eggs, each costing 0.25 Zimbabwe dollars, the equivalent of less than a penny or a cent. He added that he had already eaten one.
Insulted by his attitude and the unwanted touching, Chipo reportedly flew into a rage. She hit him with a beer bottle, then punched him in the face, before knocking him out, according to bystanders.
When he regained consciousness, Mushonga was bleeding heavily from his head. He later told local media: “She could have just said no.”
Chipo, who was not charged by police, said she simply felt he needed to be taught a lesson about respect. Police in Mvurwi confirmed they were called to the scene but treated it as a minor assault case. No arrests were made after both parties declined to press charges.
The incident has drawn mixed reactions online. Some Nigerians and Zimbabweans said the man’s actions amounted to harassment and that the offer was demeaning. Others argued that the violent response was excessive.
The story also highlights Zimbabwe’s ongoing economic crisis. Earlier this year the _Weekend Post_ newspaper in the capital, Harare, reported that the economy was so bad that Intimacy workers had reduced their prices to 0.8 Zimbabwe dollars – equivalent to half a loaf of bread. But they clearly draw the line at a boiled egg.
Zimbabwe has battled hyperinflation for years, with the local currency repeatedly losing value against the US dollar. Many citizens resort to barter trade, but the Mvurwi incident shows there are limits even in desperate times.
Gender rights advocates used the case to call for better protection for Intimacy workers, who often face violence and harassment. “Consent and dignity are not negotiable, regardless of economic status,” said Thandeka Moyo of the Women’s Action Group in Harare. “But we also do not condone mob justice. Police should investigate assaults properly….Discover More
