36 women suspected to be sex workers have been arrested in three motels in Chingola on the Copperbelt during a joint operation by Chingola Municipal Council (CMC) and the Zambia Police.

The council and Police swung into action after reports by members of the public that Musushya, Chingola and Pentagon motels have been operating as brothels, housing women from different towns who bring in clients for sexual pleasures.

The sex workers whose customers are mostly truck drivers pay rent to the hotel owners and bring in different men.

Copperbelt Police Acting Commanding Officer Sharon Zulu said the police and council want to control premises believed to be operating as brothels.

“36 ladies and seven men were apprehended for alleged disorderly conduct,” Ms Zulu said.

Chingola Municipal Council Director of Public Health Fred Nkonde said Public health Inspectors jointly swang into action to establish the truth after some public reports that some individuals are allegedly using lodging spaces as brothels.

Nkonde said that some of the lodges had no documentation to support their business operations.

“We found that these premises had a large number of women occupants with most rooms exceeding their maximum capacity which is against Covid-19 health guidelines. Individuals still need to comply to Covid-19 health guidelines therefore hotel owners have a mandate to restrict the number of people in each room as guided by the law,” he said.

“The evidence obtained on the suspects is that they had spent most of their days in those premises. We will further such operations and enforcements and go as far as continuing to ensure that there is no underage bar patronage so that law and order is maintained in our district as a whole.”