Why Tanzanian men pay motorcyclists to buy condoms

Dodoma. Motorcycle and bajaji taxi operators are earning significant amounts of money to buy condoms for men finding it shameful to procure from retail shops.

The revelation was shared yesterday during an inclusive condom programme’s annual stakeholder meeting aimed to discuss barriers to condom usage.

Motorcyclist Ezra Dyanko told the meeting that motorcycle and bajaj taxi operators were being used to buy condoms for ashamed users.

“They are ready to pay for transport to and from retail shops on top of the condom prices,” said Mr Dyanko, noting that sex workers are other customers sending them for the male protectors against sexually transmitted diseases STDs.

Mr Dyanko said in some localities in the city, condom sellers had been raising the price of condoms at times of demand when shops remained closed.

He advised increased education on the use of condoms to allay the fears of buying condoms.

Healthcare officer Steve Mayendeka said there had been a negative perception of condom use, with users being seen as overly sexually active.

He pointed out that male condoms were more widely accepted in society than female condoms due to their higher number of users.

“Sex workers usually prefer male condoms because it’s easier to convince a man to use them. If he doesn’t want to, they can be thrown away. Another challenge we face is that men are often hesitant to use condoms,” he explained.

Mr Mayendeka also mentioned that in some areas, especially in fishing communities like Singida Region, obtaining condoms was difficult.

Since free condoms are in short supply, they are forced to buy them from people who have stocked the produce from various sources that are sold between Sh7,500 and Sh10,000 per packet of three pieces.

He highlighted some incorrect practices, like men using alternative methods instead of condoms to prevent STDs, believing that if there are no cuts or wounds, they can’t get infected.

In his opening remarks, the New HIV, STDs & Hepatitis Program (NASHCoP) acting manager, Dr Zeye Masunga, said the Ministry of Health ordered 171 million condoms between January 2023 and October 2024 worth Sh14 billion.

He said 58,000 boxes of condoms have been distributed to various areas and that in Dar es Salaam, mobile condom distribution machines have been set up.