No job offer is worth risking becoming traffickers’ prey
Mmegi Editor | Monday August 10, 2026 06:00
“Desperate people do desperate things”
– Michael Brooks
However, this desperate pursuit of employment comes with its own negative outcomes. Therefore, Batswana must guard against becoming easy targets for human traffickers, labour exploiters and other transnational criminal networks that prey on vulnerable job seekers.
Numbers don’t lie. The recent revelation by the Botswana Police Service that 22 Batswana have been reported missing after allegedly traveling abroad in search of employment should serve as a national wake-up call.
Equally alarming is the disclosure that local enforcement managed to intercept eight other individuals before they reached their destinations, while two citizens had to be rescued from a foreign country through the intervention of relevant authorities.
These are not just statistics, but representation of families living in uncertainty, desperately hoping for news of their loved ones. The victims are aged between 19 and 48 years, demonstrating that this is not a problem affecting only inexperienced young people. It cuts across Botswana’s working-age population, reflecting the harsh economic realities facing many households.
When jobs are scarce and financial pressures continue to mount, even educated and experienced adults can become susceptible to promises that appear too good to ignore. Both local and global criminal syndicates understand this desperation. They exploit dreams of better-paying jobs by advertising attractive employment opportunities that promise higher earnings, free accommodation, fully sponsored travel and quick visa processing.
Once victims leave Botswana, many discover that the promised jobs do not exist. Instead, they find themselves trapped in exploitative conditions, forced labour, debt bondage, sexual exploitation or other forms of abuse, often with no means of returning home.
While government should continue creating employment opportunities, and condusive environment for Batswana to start their own businesses and strengthening economic growth, citizens also have a responsibility to exercise caution. Desperation should never replace due diligence. Every overseas employment offer must be thoroughly verified before any commitment is made.
Prospective employees should ensure recruitment agencies are legally registered and licensed, carefully examine employment contracts, verify the existence of the employer, and seek legal or professional advice where necessary.
No legitimate employer should object to such scrutiny. Maintaining copies of travel documents, employment contracts and emergency contact details could prove invaluable should anything go wrong.
The fight against human trafficking cannot be left to law enforcement alone. It requires vigilance from communities, responsible recruitment practices from agencies, stronger public awareness campaigns and informed decision-making by every citizen.
A better future is worth pursuing, but not at the cost of one’s freedom, dignity or life. No job offer, however attractive it may seem, is worth risking disappearance into the hands of traffickers and criminal syndicates. Let hope inspire ambition, but let wisdom guide every step. In the search for employment, caution must always travel before desperation.