Zimbabwe launched the Second National Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons – a successor plan to the first National Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons which was launched in 2016.
The launch yesterday was a culmination of an extensive and inclusive consultation process by the Government represented by the Anti-Trafficking Inter-Ministerial Committee and relevant stakeholders including civil society organisations.
In his keynote address during the launch, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga revealed that on the 13th of December 2013, Zimbabwe acceded to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially in Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime.
He said Zimbabwe also committed itself to work with the Financial Action Task Force and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group, to address gaps in our anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism responses.
“I wish to inform the nation that, under the international and regional anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering arrangements, to which Zimbabwe is a party, trafficking in persons is one of the twenty-one (21) mandatory predicate offences to money laundering, hence the need for Zimbabwe to have such law.
“Following our country’s ratification of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, there was an urgent need for Zimbabwe to have a national law criminalising the act of human trafficking. Without such a law, Zimbabwe would have been put under economic pressure by the Financial Action Task Force for lack of compliance to a system we had subscribed to,” VP Chiwenga said.
He sai the country did a number of initiatives in order to comply with the Financial Action Task Force recommendations, and to give temporary legal effect in Zimbabwe to Zimbabwe’s obligations under the Palermo Protocol, the Late President, Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe evoked the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) and gazetted a temporary law, the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Trafficking in Persons Act) Regulations, which was valid only until 2 July 2014.
Thereafter, the Trafficking in Persons Act [Chapter 9:25], which is Zimbabwe’s first permanent legislation on the subject of trafficking in persons, was enacted on the 13th of June 2014.
The aforementioned Act provides for the prohibition, prevention and prosecution of the crime of trafficking in persons and the protection of victims of trafficking. It provides for the legal framework to address the country’s response to the challenge of trafficking in persons.
Addressing the same gathering, HE Edward Kallon, the UN Zimbabwe Resident Coordinator congratulated the Government of Zimbabwe, particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage for launching the Anti-Trafficking in Persons National Plan of Action 2023-2028.
“This will contribute to strengthening the fight against human trafficking in Zimbabwe. As the saying goes, not planning is planning to fail. This plan will not only serve to boost collaborative efforts to counter human trafficking but also measure progress in our collective efforts to combat the scourge. The Plan of Action will provide national direction and assist development partners in mobilizing the necessary resources to support the fight against human trafficking in a holistic and well-coordinated manner,” HE Kallon said.
The launch comes at a time when the menace of human trafficking remains a challenge for Zimbabwe despite spirited efforts by the Government and other actors to curb it.
Zimbabwe remains a source, transit and destination country for men, women and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour.
Due to the complex and evolving nature of tactics applied by traffickers and a limited understanding of the various forms of trafficking in persons, many survivors of trafficking are unable to self-identify as victims.
“This fundamental lack of understanding goes all the way down to the grassroots level and translates into increased vulnerability for individuals and community members. In addition, internet connectivity, improvements to the mobile network ecosystem and the availability of lower price point smartphones continue to drive Zimbabwe’s increasing uptake of social media usage.
“While the transformative power of the Internet, and particularly that of social media platforms, is unparalleled, these platforms are exposing entire populations to unscrupulous employment agencies and traffickers. Encryption in messaging applications enables trafficking rings to fearlessly recruit and exploit victims with little fear of prosecution for their actions,” HE Kallon said.
He added that the United Nations Family in Zimbabwe recognizes the efforts that have been made by the Government of Zimbabwe – at policy, legal and institutional levels –to fight human trafficking.
The Government of Zimbabwe has taken concrete steps to strengthen the legislative framework on trafficking in persons, raise awareness of these crimes, and develop new institutions to tackle them.
These steps have been critical in combatting human trafficking in Zimbabwe, and the United Nations System particularly IOM, UNODC and others will continue to work with the Government to strengthen efforts to ensure that the law is applied, that victims are protected, and human traffickers are brought to book.
Increased efforts from law enforcement, judicial authorities, and social development institutions are needed to combat these crimes and support survivors of human trafficking.
HE Kallon said the Anti-Trafficking in Persons National Plan of Action is robust and includes comprehensive policy proposals and strategies to address the above-highlighted issues with a human rights-based approach that respects the fundamental rights of all trafficked persons.
The United Nations in Zimbabwe appreciates that the action plan has been informed by internationally recognized antitrafficking guiding principles such as a human rights/victim-centred approach, a multi-disciplinary approach, government leadership and ownership, civil society participation, a gender-sensitive approach, and overall sustainability.
