Opinion / Columnist
Zimbabwe government assists trafficking victims
05 May 2016 at 14:10hrs | Views
The statement published by one of the weekly tabloid that the government failed to raise $12 000 to bring home the stranded women who had been holed up in Kuwait cannot be true. It is true that for something to be understood there must be some exaggeration. An attentive examination of the story suggests that the government had already secured the air tickets but a Good Samaritan jumped in before they were delivered.
In fact the Good Samaritan, Wicknell Chivhayo, who paid for the trafficking victims, should be praised for the work done as a philanthropic citizen who worked well with the concerned government officials. Hats off to this man. Having the audacity and guts to say that the government refused or ignored the plight of the trafficking victims is misleading or comes from uninformed individuals. After all trafficking is not unique to Zimbabwe only.
It seems that some people are of the notion that any misfortune is being caused by the ruling government, which is missing the point. The government has been helping many people in misfortunes like floods, droughts, rape and of late it reacted in repatriating xenophobia victims in South Africa. At the moment the police are investigating the traffickers and the facilitators here in Zimbabwe.
We are informed through the press that so far 15 women have been successfully brought home with the assistance of the Zimbabwe embassy in Kuwait. It is being said that the government was busy doing everything in its powers to assist the victims. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs refers to Zimbabwe's law against Human Trafficking in Persons Chapter 9 sub 25 of June 2014 on prohibition, prevention and prosecution of people involved in human tracking.
This piece of legislation would be executed to its potential so that people who commit this heinous crime face the full wrath of the law. It has been established that all embassies are ready to assist Zimbabweans who might require assistance abroad. In pursuance of eradicating human trafficking ,so far seven people believed to be part of the syndicate have appeared in court in connection with the human trafficking scam.
It is prudent for the enactment of legislation to deal with bogus employment agencies luring women with job offers only to introduce them into sex slavery. It is reported that a former Kuwait Ambassador and another Zimbabwean official have been implicated in the scam in which hundreds of Zimbabwean women were being trafficked to the Middle East country after being promised lucrative jobs.
In this endeavour the Kuwait government should be held accountable for the part its officials played in facilitating the crimes and for failing to prevent the trafficking of the women. On the other end our government should introduce strict legislation in order to protect our women and every Zimbabwean.
In fact the Good Samaritan, Wicknell Chivhayo, who paid for the trafficking victims, should be praised for the work done as a philanthropic citizen who worked well with the concerned government officials. Hats off to this man. Having the audacity and guts to say that the government refused or ignored the plight of the trafficking victims is misleading or comes from uninformed individuals. After all trafficking is not unique to Zimbabwe only.
It seems that some people are of the notion that any misfortune is being caused by the ruling government, which is missing the point. The government has been helping many people in misfortunes like floods, droughts, rape and of late it reacted in repatriating xenophobia victims in South Africa. At the moment the police are investigating the traffickers and the facilitators here in Zimbabwe.
We are informed through the press that so far 15 women have been successfully brought home with the assistance of the Zimbabwe embassy in Kuwait. It is being said that the government was busy doing everything in its powers to assist the victims. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs refers to Zimbabwe's law against Human Trafficking in Persons Chapter 9 sub 25 of June 2014 on prohibition, prevention and prosecution of people involved in human tracking.
This piece of legislation would be executed to its potential so that people who commit this heinous crime face the full wrath of the law. It has been established that all embassies are ready to assist Zimbabweans who might require assistance abroad. In pursuance of eradicating human trafficking ,so far seven people believed to be part of the syndicate have appeared in court in connection with the human trafficking scam.
It is prudent for the enactment of legislation to deal with bogus employment agencies luring women with job offers only to introduce them into sex slavery. It is reported that a former Kuwait Ambassador and another Zimbabwean official have been implicated in the scam in which hundreds of Zimbabwean women were being trafficked to the Middle East country after being promised lucrative jobs.
In this endeavour the Kuwait government should be held accountable for the part its officials played in facilitating the crimes and for failing to prevent the trafficking of the women. On the other end our government should introduce strict legislation in order to protect our women and every Zimbabwean.
Source - Stewart Murewa
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