World Cup could spark human trafficking - WiLSA

MWENGWE KAPEMBWA
Correspondent | Friday June 11, 2010 00:00

Speaking on the eve of the 2010 FIFA World Cup kick-off in various cities of South Africa, running from June 11-to July 11, WILSA acting Zambia coordinator, Hope Kasese-Kumalo,  advised young people to be wary of human traffickers who are ready to pounce. Kasese-Kumalo noted that most young people in thesouthern African region come from poor families, thus making them vulnerable to human trafficking.  Kumalo has bemoaned the laxity by some governments in the implementation of the Anti Human Trafficking Act of 2008. 

 'Our appeal to young people from colleges and universities is that they need to be cautious and not be excited about free ticket offers otherwise they will end up victims of human trafficking. Critics are  saying our fears are unfounded because when Germany hosted the World Cup in 2006, they did not experience human trafficking. 

 'I think it would be unfair for us to compare ourselves with Germany or other Western countries because the southern African region comprises mainly of vulnerable people,' Kasese-Kumalo said. 

She added: 'Secondly, it has been observed that South Africa is a major destination of human trafficking and the pull factors like the good economy that South Africa  has will make people prone to human trafficking. What we are saying  is that there's likely to be an increase in human trafficking during  this year's World Cup'. 

 It was possible that people could have been trafficked into South Africa even during the preparation for the hosting of the global event through job offers.  'Preparations for the hosting of the World Cup started way back when it was just announced that South Africa would be hosting the 2010 World Cup. Jobs have been offered during the construction of stadia, there  are job offers in hotels, in lodges and at airports. And from this,  you cannot rule out the possibility of people being trafficked.

There's every possibility that people, especially young people, have already been trafficked into South Africa,' she said.   Regrettably, Kasese-Kumalo said there were only three countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region that had enacted legislation to address human trafficking. 

 'Zambia is one of the three countries. And it took civil society to push governments like Zambia to enact a law on human trafficking. But what is lacking is implementation of this legislation by our government.  South Africa, for example, only announced six weeks ago that they would fast track the enactment of legislation to curb human trafficking. But the World Cup is starting and I don't think they will manage to fasttrack the enactment of this law.' 

 According to her, WILSA has embarked on the Red Light 2010 campaign whose objective is to increase awareness among communities in Southern Africa and to engage with governments in ensuring that they enact pieces of legislation aimed at curbing human trafficking.  'WiLSA has simplified Zambian the Anti Human Trafficking Act of 2008 and, is currently distributing the piece of law to people in communities,' said Kasese-Kumalo.

Recently, former Zambian Minister of Home Affairs, Lameck Mangani, warned Zambians against falling prey to acts of human trafficking and urged immigration authorities in the Southern African region to be on alert against people perpetuating the  vice.

Zambia's Drug Enforcement Agency spokesperson John Nyawali urged Zambians to desist from being  used in human trafficking related activities and warned that perpetrators  face serious face consequences.  (Sila Press Agency)