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Mashudu Mambo
A WOMAN has been sentenced to an effective 30 years in prison for human trafficking after she lured a number of unsuspecting job seekers to Oman where they were subjected to sexual exploitation and harsh working conditions.
According to a statement by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, Caroline Ziyanga appeared before a Harare magistrate facing 11 counts of human trafficking, however two counts were withdrawn before plea due to unavailability of witnesses.
She was sentenced to 10 years each for the nine counts. The counts were grouped into three, count three to five, five to eight and nine to 11 running concurrently, she will therefore serve an effective 30-year jail sentence.
The court heard that sometime between December 2021 and August 2022, Zinyanga recruited a number of unsuspecting victims claiming that they were being recruited for jobs in Dubai.
She lured the unsuspecting job seekers through fake job adverts coupled with lucrative salaries ranging from US$500-US$800 and good working conditions.
The matter came to light when the victims found themselves in Oman instead of Dubai where they were working as housemaids and subjected to harsh working conditions.
In Oman, they survived on left overs, worked very long hours, deprived of the freedom of movement, were not given days off and were subjected to sexual exploitation.
In July 2022, the Zimbabwean government assembled an Interministerial committee which was dispatched to Oman to rescue the victims. Investigations were carried out leading to the arrest of the culprit.
Online Reporter