LUPANE, MATABELELAND NORTH – As night falls over Lupane, the provincial capital takes on a worrying new character. The warm evening air, which might ordinarily resonate with family conversations and laughter, is increasingly marked by the presence of young girls, some barely teenagers, on the streets around popular sports bars. They linger in the shadows of venues like koNgwenya, Daf, and Madhafinya, areas intended for community recreation but now often sites of desperate survival.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the scene repeats with distressing regularity. Many of these girls, most of whom have dropped out of school and are under 18, stand on the streets seeking clients. Economic hardship has pushed them into a harsh reality where trading their dignity can mean securing a meal, paying school fees for siblings, or simply making it through another day.

Thandi, one of the girls present in these areas, shared her story quietly. “I dropped out in Form 3 after my parents could no longer afford the fees,” she said, her voice low. “My younger brother is still in school. This is the only way I can help my mother. What else can I do?” Her experience echoes the struggles of many young girls in Lupane, caught between the promise of education and the stark necessity of survival.

Community voices express deep concern over this growing issue. Mrs. Nomvula Dube, a local teacher and community advocate, questioned the direction in which this trend leads the community: “What future are we building when our children, the very leaders of tomorrow, are forced into such a degrading lifestyle? We are witnessing the systematic erosion of our social fabric. These are not wayward children; they are victims of a failing system. Where are the protective structures? Where is the social welfare? We are failing them.”

What future are we building when our children, the very leaders of tomorrow, are forced into such a degrading lifestyle? We are witnessing the systematic erosion of our social fabric. These are not wayward children; they are victims of a failing system. Where are the protective structures? Where is the social welfare? We are failing them.

The roots of this problem lie in a complex economic crisis that has severely impacted families in Matabeleland North. Widespread poverty and unemployment leave few options, especially for youth without formal qualifications. Traditional family support systems are under strain, increasing the vulnerability of young girls.

The situation demands urgent and coordinated intervention. Strategies being called for include strengthening child protection services to remove minors from harmful situations, economic empowerment for families and youths, and community-driven programs that offer safe spaces and alternatives to street involvement.

The presence of underage girls engaging in sex work on Lupane’s streets represents a critical challenge and a collective moral concern for the province. It is a stark reminder that the future of Matabeleland depends not only on formal institutions but also on addressing the vulnerabilities faced by its youngest and most at-risk residents.

To build a prosperous and resilient Lupane, community members agree that safeguarding its children—especially its daughters—is the first essential step toward healing and progress.