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Added: Thursday, 12 November, 2009, 11:13 GMT 11:13 UK

This won't work. Prostitution isn't going anywhere. It's as old as civilisation itself.
Why not legalise it, and clean it up instead - give it the protection and guidence of law. Take it away from the pimps and drugs trade.

Jen Dahl, United Kingdom

Added: Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 17:25 GMT 17:25 UK

The soft loans will not keep the women off the streets if they do not have the requisite training to make whatever they invest the money in work. The government should start by teaching the women what to do, and then encourage those who need it with the soft loan. Otherwise, the loan will be lost to the "sharks" who will be waiting to feed on the women and of course force them to go back to what they know how to do best.

Kingsley Ezenekwe, Lagos, Nigeria

Added: Thursday, 12 November, 2009, 14:47 GMT 14:47 UK

I love the way all the self-satisfying moral crusaders out there just cannot fathom the idea that maybe some of these women actually enjoy their job!

Paul Smith, Leamington Spa, United Kingdom

Added: Thursday, 12 November, 2009, 12:09 GMT 12:09 UK

Prostitution is not driven by poverty. Just plain old simple Supply and Demand. Rich and poor countries alike have people who want to partake in this activity. Prostitution is given a bad name by criminals and people who have misguided morals and religions.

Bob Hart, Perth SCOTLAND

Added: Thursday, 12 November, 2009, 15:25 GMT 15:25 UK

So the sex workers who take up the offer of the loan and are granted it will maybe move on to another line of work, which will make room on the streets for another batch of prostitutes. The problem will not go away. The world's oldest profession will not go away.
Legalise, legitimise and regulate - that will help to eliminate the darker underworld side. Sex workers should have status and recognition to keep them out of the hands of the pimps and profiteers. Let's not be hypocritical about it.

[giganticjess], Paris

Added: Thursday, 12 November, 2009, 15:23 GMT 15:23 UK

Nothing has ever stopped the oldest profession from plying their trade. An offer of money may reduce the number of economically disadvantaged members but, where there is a demand for a service, it will always be filled.

Devil Incarnate, Cyprus

Added: Thursday, 12 November, 2009, 14:52 GMT 14:52 UK

i know a couple of girls involved in the high end market

one drives a Porsche 911 - the other a Range Rover

what do you drive?

Muffin the Mule, in a sleezy bar!

Added: Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 15:36 GMT 15:36 UK

I lived in Malawi for about a year working with those affected by HIV/AIDS... so, I definitely know the immensity of this problem. Something definitely needs to be done. And there absolutely needs to be special attention given to sex workers. However, I do see the flaws in such a plan. Would it not be better to educate these women and then give them a loan? I think that this plan takes on the bandaid approach and isn't really thinking about the long-term implications.

Ryan, Texas

Added: Thursday, 12 November, 2009, 13:31 GMT 13:31 UK

Prostitution is a very old profession, some of those who prostitute don't indulge in it because of poverty. Some are there because of the fun their drive from it. I wonder how much the Government of Malawi will give to make them stop it. Do you know that some of them are bastardly rich? So giving them soft loan is never a solution, except to those who are in the business because of poverty. Those who are there for fun will never quit the business, no matter how much give them .
OBEJI, NIGERIA

Obeji Cornelius, Jos, Nigeria

Added: Thursday, 12 November, 2009, 08:30 GMT 08:30 UK

All what these sex workers around us want is the money... so the Malawian government's initiative should be embraced by all African governments.

Arnaud Ntirenganya Emmanuel, Vancouver, Canada

Added: Thursday, 12 November, 2009, 03:18 GMT 03:18 UK

Can loans stop prostitution? [Yes]

But will this be enough to get them off the street? [Maybe]

Do you think such a project will work? [I am skeptical]

Will it address the root causes of prostitution? [Maybe]

If you are or were a sex worker, would you change your profession in return for a soft loan? [Yes]

Would you want your government to offer loans to sex workers?
[Yes]

=Dennis Junior=

[dennisjunior1]

Added: Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 15:30 GMT 15:30 UK

Loans to sex workers for other livelihood activity/businesses is a good idea but will not work alone; the need to provide skills training , and de-stigmatisation, and addressing womens rights issues more comprehensively, are also very important. Frankly, the wealth divide and structural poverty, together with patriarchal male-domination values, have to be seriously addressed before women's bodies are treated as anything other than commodities - either in prostitution or in the domestic context

John Stewart, Harare

Added: Thursday, 12 November, 2009, 17:10 GMT 17:10 UK

The majority of women would never get involved in prostitution unless they were desperate. But it's not possible for everyone to set up a business to make a living. Most businesses fail, so the governement would want to have some other programmes for poor people, such as supporting them in meeting the highest costs they face, such accommodation, education, day to day expenses, etc. The problems of poverty and underdevelopment affect many people, not just those engaged in the sex trade.

Simon Collery

Added: Thursday, 12 November, 2009, 16:58 GMT 16:58 UK

Does Malawi have such a big police force that each prostitute can be followed to ensure conditions for loan are being met?
Rather, Malawai should consider
a) legalizing prostitution (which means tax revenue)
b) mandatory screening for all STDS + aids in order to retain prostitution license.
Those who fail screening & offer sex = tough penalties.
Soft loans should be offered to all persons who want to start small business - not just female prositutes - because selectivity is discrimination.

Regina-Gabrielle Berry, Toronto, Canada

Added: Thursday, 12 November, 2009, 16:51 GMT 16:51 UK

I considered it a great attempt by the Malawi government to quell the scenario of "sex -for- survival" misery, as this might shift the attitude of prostitutes to another line of work that saves the woman's dignity as well as the risk of HIV/AIDS infection.

In my opinion, all African governments should work toward alternative durable solutions to such problems, because they are acting directly in the process of hindering overall development in the continent by destroying human capacity.

Emam Abubakr, Kuala Lumpur