Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
A 36-YEAR-OLD Chipinge man has been arrested after allegedly trafficking a 15 year old girl to South Africa where she was destined to meet a supposed husband in Thohoyandou, Limpopo.
Solomona Khoza is accused of smuggling the teenager earlier this month through an illegal crossing point near Tshikwalakwala along the Limpopo River. The disturbing trip was reportedly arranged by the girl’s boyfriend who wanted to marry her.
Khoza now faces charges under the Trafficking in Persons Act for knowingly facilitating the cross border transportation of victims and under the Immigration Act for assisting a person to enter, remain in or depart from Zimbabwe without valid documents.
He was not asked to plead when he appeared before Beitbridge regional magistrate Charity Maphosa on Thursday and was remanded in custody to December 9 for trial.
State prosecutor Willbrought Muleya told the court that around 2 AM on November 3, Khoza smuggled the juvenile into South Africa through a crossing point along the Limpopo River. Their plans quickly unravelled when South African police intercepted them en route to Thohoyandou after they failed to produce travel documents.
They were detained at Mutale police station before being deported to Zimbabwe on November 20. Upon their arrival at the Government run Reception and Support Centre, Khoza was arrested during a routine security vetting.
The girl was referred to the Department of Social Development for further assistance.
Investigations have since revealed that Khoza had also trafficked two other boys aged nine and twelve to South Africa. Police have located the minors and taken them to a place of safety.
