adminTariro Tandi
Human trafficking appears to be the worst human development outcome linked to increasing global mobility. The media has been awash with cases of trafficking these past months. This is a phenomenon that as a country we had not been openly talking about but there is a growing need for us to talk about this insidious and horrendous crime that is robbing the nation of its citizens.It would perhaps be beneficial to explain what trafficking really is. Trafficking has been described as a form of modern day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others. Traffickers use violence, threats, deception, debt bondage and many other manipulative tactics to trap victims in horrific inhumane situations everyday.
Zimbabwe is regarded as a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children who find themselves trafficked for purposes of forced labour and sexual exploitation.
It is important to highlight that trafficking can happen in-country say for instance a girl is taken from a rural area and is brought to town promised a better life either through work or other means. When the girl gets to town she is then forced into prostitution by whoever will have control over her. That is trafficking. It can also happen that girls, women, boys and men are trafficked to other countries under the belief that they have found employment only to realise they have been duped and find themselves being subjected to sexual exploitation or forced labour.
Trafficking is a complex phenomenon that is often driven or influenced by social, economic, cultural and other factors. Trafficking in human beings is to a large extent a symptom of poverty, unemployment and lack of opportunity which force millions of people to look for a better life by moving away from the places they call home.
Human trafficking appears to be the worst human development outcome linked to increasing global mobility. Victims are treated like slaves as they are deprived of their human rights and freedoms. Victims of trafficking can be any age, and any gender.
However, a disproportionate number of women and girls are involved in human trafficking as victims. Not knowing the evils of the world they are being lured into, the vulnerable and desperate people (mostly girls and women) succumb to the deceptive schemes of the perpetrators.
All trafficking victims share one essential experience-the loss of freedom which is why it is likened to slavery. Trafficking happens in ways that most people on the face of it can never allege that there is a violation taking place. Human/sex-trafficking thrives on the secrecy and shadow of unawareness, which currently pervades our society. That is why it is important to raise awareness and hence this article which seeks to alert people of the fact that human trafficking is there and we have to put our heads together to prevent it.
Who buys trafficked persons and why?
The main “buyers” of trafficked persons include sex tourists, pornography producers, brothel owners, sex customers, and employers of all types looking for cheap labour both for domestic and industrial purposes.
Advice is, if anything looks too good to be true then it usually is, take your time to verify whatever opportunity comes your way. Human trafficking has devastating and everlasting effects on the survivors hence the need to prevent it from happening.
What does the law in Zimbabwe say?
The Trafficking in Persons Act Chapter 10:20 which was enacted through a Presidential proclamation in 2014 deals with the prohibition, prevention and prosecution of crimes of trafficking and protection of victims.
It is important to realise that giving support to victims of trafficking is the best thing we can do rather than blaming them for getting themselves into trouble.
The law clearly stipulates that the penalty for those who facilitate trafficking is life imprisonment or imprisonment of not less than 10 years.
This shows that trafficking is regarded as a serious violation so society should prevent it and support survivors.
Written By: Tariro Tandi, Transformative Justice Manager For feedback, questions and comments please feel free to email @[email protected] or to send a whatsap message on 0777 828 201 and we will definitely address them. Look out for the next article in this column next week and Kwayedza every Thursday. Let’s discuss the law. For a 24 hour response to family law cases, Gender Based Violence Issues, Human trafficking cases call our toll free number 08080131: hotlines 0776736873 /0782900900
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