A popular strip club in the country’s second largest city could be threatening the stability of many marriages in Bulawayo after men have flocked to the joint to feast on women dancing naked.
Some wives in the city have found themselves enduring longer hours during the winter cold back at home while their husbands spent the time salivating at “naked ladies” at the newly opened premium adult entertainment facility, The Private Lounge Strip Club which uses space at Cecil Hotel.
The Private Lounge, which opened in Bulawayo in May this year, is located in the CBD and has a highly visible search light atop the hotel directing potential revellers to it.
It has been an instant hit with male revellers, married or otherwise, who are usually seen flocking to the venue in numbers to catch a glimpse of female dancers gyrating on their birthday suits.
Some men would prefer to prolong the hours, exiting the club in the wee hours of the next day.
“My husband usually comes home at around 3 am daily due to this strip club. We are sick and tired of this club because we are no longer having quality time with our men,” said Nomusa Tshuma, a city resident.
Another married woman, Priscilla Cheda, aged 49, said her 15-year old marriage was on the verge of collapse as her husband was hardly home since the club was opened.
“I have tried many times to reason with him to no avail and I don’t know what to do now. It’s very painful so to speak,” Cheda said.
Some married women have gone to the extent of demanding the closure of the club by city authorities claiming the joint was ruining their marriages.
“We appeal to the relevant authorities to look into this issue before it gets out of control,” said one Netsai Vuma.
“Before the club was opened,” she continued, “we had good time with our husbands but now it’s no longer the case. We argue a lot with them and as such there is no peace at all.”
Located at Cecil Hotel Complex which is corner 3rd and Five avenue, Private lounge is the first strip tease club in Bulawayo.
The joint has three sections to host merrymakers and has different entertainment on offer at any given time.
According to Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Private Lounge was a potential tourist attraction capable of increasingly revenue to the city.
Social commentators, however, said the strip club encouraged immoral behaviour among some people and this mostly led to illicit love affairs and promiscuity.
Social commentator and Habakkuk Trust (a faith-based advocacy organisation) director, Dumisani Nkomo, said the strip club was a threat to the marriage institution and family unit.
“It’s socially and morally wrong. It constitutes a threat in the marriage institution and family unit. It also contributes to moral decadence because young people are used as sex objects,” he said, adding that young people were now aspiring to be strippers instead of doing decent professions.
Bulawayo United Residents’ Association (BURA) chairperson, Winos Dube, said married men should respect their families and do decent things.
“We thought that was going to attract young people who are not married, but alas, it has attracted married men. We then ask ourselves what is it that attracts married men and make them forget their families. Can we be men enough and choose what is right for our families,” Dube said.
Dube said it was difficult for authorities to shut the joint down because strip clubs were now legalised in Zimbabwe.
However, Nhlalwenhle Ncube, a journalist with interest in relationship issues, said women should not cry foul but instead work hard to restore excitement in their marriages.
“The truth is that most of these men are so eager to watch strippers do what they know best and they want to watch without being disturbed.
“In their homes, they are never given such an opportunity. When its lovemaking time, women switch off lights and it’s deal done,” she said.
“Sisters, let’s give them all that they want at home so that they do not spend nights out watching strippers. Surely, if one is satisfied at home, I do not see any reason why he will want to be out there following the light so he gets to see another woman’s privates.”
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