An HIV-infected man in his 40s has told how he makes a living by being paid to have sex with children.
Eric Aniva, who would not reveal his exact age, lives in the Nsanje district of southern Malawi where he works a sex worker.
His work - known as a "hyena" - is embedded into the sacred traditions of his village.
There, young women are regularly "cleansed" by having sex with a hyena, sometimes as punishment for an offence such as having an abortion.
But for locals a hyena's main duty is overseeing a coming-of-age ritual, where girls take part over a three-day period after their first menstruation.
Mr Aniva, speaking to the BBC, said: "Some girls are just 12 or 13 years old, but I prefer them older. All these girls find pleasure in having me as their hyena.
Mr Aniva himself has HIV, but continues his work regardless. He is paid £3 to £5 by locals to perform the sex rituals.
And village elders, who are responsible for organising the "cleansing", insist that they are necessary to "avoid infection with their parents or the rest of the community".
Government officials do not endorse the traditions, but they do not actively campaign against them either.
Source - Mirror
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