Human trafficking Act not yet effective
Onalenna Kelebeile | Thursday August 27, 2015 17:07
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Moore Gondo said this when he was addressing an ordinary full council meeting here this week. Gondo was accompanied by a delegation from the Ministry of Justice, Defence and Security on Tuesday.
However, Gondo said there are indications that human trafficking does happen in Botswana.
He also stated that a study by SADC is currently underway to ascertain if human trafficking exists in Botswana.
Gondo said law enforcement agencies have also been trained to deal with human trafficking cases.
“The ministry is also involved in training of focal persons in different districts.
An anti human trafficking group has also been formed in Maun where over 200 people have been trained,” he said.
Gondo explained that some people often fall victims to trafficking as they are promised employment opportunities or studies abroad.
He said women, children and the elderly are usually affected by trafficking, adding that the elderly were often trafficked for organ harvesting.
“Perpetrators (traffickers) are often individuals, syndicates or organised criminals,” he added.
In 2012, the International Labour Organisation estimated that 20.9 million people worldwide are engaged in acts of forced labour, while last year it was estimated that the use of forced labour generated about $150.2 billion per year in illegal profits worldwide.
Human trafficking offences under the enacted Act 32 of 2014 stipulates a fine not exceeding P500,000 or a prison term not exceeding 25 years or both.
It also stipulates a fine not exceeding P1 million or less than 30 years imprisonment in offences considered to have been aggravated.
In July last year, Parliament finally passed the Human Trafficking Act, which was tabled by the then Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Ramadeluka Seretse.
Law enforcement officers and other stakeholders noted that human trafficking might be rife in the country.
The law enforcement officers felt that it is difficult to deal with trafficking cases.
Some trafficking victims have also gone public in the past, insinuating that cases of human trafficking might be rife in Botswana.