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Chronicle Reporter
SCORES of undocumented Zimbabweans are smuggled into neighbouring countries, a development that has been attributed to unemployment.
Over the years the country has witnessed a sharp increase in school dropouts and unemployed youths flocking to neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Botswana in search of greener pastures.

The illegal immigrants are usually smuggled out of the country by unregistered cross border transport operators popularly known as omalayitsha who charge them fares ranging between R500 and R2,000 for a single trip to Johannesburg.

However, in most cases, omalayitsha ditch these desperate illegal immigrants in bushy areas close to the Beitbridge Border Post leaving them at the mercy of organised criminal syndicates operating along the crocodile-infested Limpopo River.

Several border jumpers have been raped and robbed as they attempt to illegally cross the border.

According to a recent Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) report, an average of 16 border jumpers are being raped and robbed every month as they illegally cross into the neighbouring country through undesignated entry points.

MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, has established Sexual and Gender Based Violence Clinics in the border towns of Musina and Beitbridge in which the non-governmental organisation is mainly targeting, in-transit truck drivers, commercial sex workers and sexually abused irregular migrants seeking STI treatment, trauma counselling, tetanus, HIV and Aids tests and anti-retroviral post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

On arrival in South Africa, the illegal immigrants end up falling prey to human traffickers who exploit them for prostitution and cheap labour purposes.

Speaking during an anti-human trafficking campaign held in Bulawayo yesterday, an immigration official, Marshal Chikwature, said desperate Zimbabweans who illegally cross borders to neighbouring countries, were more vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking.

The spokesperson of Edmond Rice Society, Tanya Ratiba, said human trafficking was a new form of slave trade mainly affecting women and children.

She said human trafficking was the second fastest growing crime after drug trafficking.

“Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for forced labour and exploitation. Poverty stricken women and children are the main victims as they are used for prostitution purposes,” said Ratiba.

The Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Martin Moyo, said Matabeleland region was highly exposed to exploitation and human trafficking as many people were illegally migrating to neighbouring South Africa and Botswana.

“Records reveal that the Matabeleland region is very vulnerable to human trafficking due to several reasons, among them poverty,” said Clr Moyo.

He said the anti-human trafficking campaign was important as it enlightens the public about the detrimental effects of human trafficking.

“Although human trafficking is prevalent in the region its dynamics are not well documented leaving thousands vulnerable,” said Clr Moyo.

The commemoration was marked by a march by police and pupils from different schools in the city carrying placards denouncing human trafficking.

The march started at corner Parirenyatwa Street and 9th Avenue ending at TM Hyper.