Zimbabweans Forced Into Slavery Overseas: Report 06/23/2012

​Harare, June 23, 2012 ---An increasing number of Zimbabwean man and women are being lured into forced labour overseas and other African countries, a new United States government report says.
According to the recently released Trafficking in Persons Report 2012 compiled by the State Department, Zimbabwe is one of the countries that have done nothing to stem human trafficking. 

“Zimbabwean women and men are lured into exploitative labour situations in Angola, Mozambique, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Nigeria and South Africa with false offers of employment in agriculture, construction, information technology and hospitality, some subsequently become victims of forced labour or forced prostitution,” the report says. 

​Women and girls are also lured to China, Egypt, the United Kingdom and Canada under the false pretences where they are subjected to prostitution.” 

The report adds that Zimbabwe is also a major destination for trafficked people from Bangladesh, Somalia, India, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. 

Some of the human trafficking syndicates use Zimbabwe to transport their victims to South Africa. 

Those that stay in the country especially the Chinese end up being victims of forced labour

“Chinese nationals reportedly are forced to labour in restaurants and mines in Zimbabwe,” the report said.

 “Women and children from border communities in neighbouring countries are trafficked to Zimbabwe for forced labour, including domestic servitude and prostitution.