Zim GBC News | Gender and Community
A 25-year-old man from Mt Hampden says his life has been shattered after he contracted a severe and seemingly incurable sexually transmitted infection (STI), following a single encounter with a sex worker that was orchestrated by fellow church members.
“Mjolo haubhadhare — I think I am staring death in the face,” the man told Zim GBC News, describing a existence now defined by relentless pain and social isolation.
The incident, which he says has left him in constant agony, began on 28 May last year. What started as a simple visit to fellow congregants to charge his mobile phone quickly turned into a pressure-filled situation where he was urged to prove his manhood.
“They told me I needed to prove I am a man. They introduced me to a woman who sells her body here in Mt Hampden, and I slept with her,” he recounted.
The consequences were swift and severe. Almost immediately after the unprotected encounter, he began experiencing distressing symptoms.
“My private parts started itching, burning, and feeling like they were being stabbed. The condition worsened over time,” he said.
“I went to our pastor for prayers, but nothing changed.”
His condition deteriorated dramatically. He began discharging a foul-smelling fluid, experienced extreme difficulty during bowel movements, and was plagued by debilitating back pain that forced him to leave his job.
“Sometimes I cannot sleep or sit properly. Walking is now a struggle. I tie a cloth around my waist to ease the pain,” he explained, adding that the pain has now spread to his entire body, including his head and neck.
Despite his parents funding initial medical treatments, including medication and injections, the illness persisted. His financial situation has now become a critical barrier to further healthcare.
“My parents think I am healed, but I told them the illness is still there. They no longer have money to help me, and clinics and hospitals keep asking for fees I cannot afford,” he stated.
He suspects he may have contracted herpes, a lifelong viral STI, citing symptoms that include swelling, sores, and a painful urination. In a desperate plea for assistance, he has made his contact number public:
“I need help. Anyone willing to assist can call me on 0771 455 304.”
The man says he later confronted the woman he believes infected him, but she has since fled the area.
“I have heard that the woman who infected me has ruined many young men’s lives,” he claimed.
Expressing profound regret, he issued a stark warning to other young people:
“My warning to young people is that mjolo haubhadhare (relationships don’t pay). I feel like I am staring death in the face.”
He also revealed that his church has offered no support following the failed prayer session with his pastor.
“I am crying out to the public for help. Our pastor has remained silent, and no one at church knows what I am going through.”
His story highlights the devastating physical, emotional, and financial toll of severe STIs, as well as the dangers of peer pressure and misinformation surrounding sexual health.
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