Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke
Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE on Wednesday joined the rest of the world in commemorating the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, reiterating its firm stance on fighting exploitative organised crimes confronting humanity.
The commemorations ran under the theme, “Human Trafficking is Organised Crime, Stop the Exploitation”.
In a statement, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe spelt out the need for collaboration across sectors and communities to stamp out the scourge of human trafficking.
“Trafficking in persons is not just a crime; it is a violation of the dignity and rights of fellow human beings. It is organised, it is exploitative and it must be stopped,” he said.
“Zimbabwe is both a source and transit country and we are not immune. It is critical that all stakeholders, Government, civil society, traditional leaders and citizens, stand united in this fight.”
He said Zimbabwean men and women had been trafficked into forced labour across sectors such as agriculture, construction, hospitality, and information technology, particularly within the region.
“Some women end up victims of sex trafficking, enduring unimaginable abuse. Globally, the UN estimates that 27 million people are currently exploited for labour and commercial sex services,” he said.
The rise of digital technologies has exacerbated the threat, he added, highlighting how traffickers have turned to encrypted messaging applications, digital currencies, dating platforms and online classifieds to recruit victims and transact in illicit content.
“Technology has become a double-edged sword. While it has many benefits, traffickers are leveraging it to expand their networks, evade detection and reach vulnerable individuals with unprecedented speed,” said the Minister.
“This makes it harder for traditional legal frameworks to keep up, and calls for modernised responses rooted in technological surveillance, public education and international cooperation.”
Minister Kazembe said Zimbabwe domesticated the Palermo Protocol through the enactment of the Trafficking in Persons Act (Chapter 9:25) in 2014.
He further indicated that the Government was implementing child-sensitive justice mechanisms, supporting survivors to rebuild their lives and protecting unaccompanied minors on the move.
“We cannot fight this crime in silos. We must continue strengthening our border management, sensitising communities and empowering vulnerable families to reduce the root causes of trafficking,” he added.
