15 May 2017

An official from the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security says Botswana has 16 registered cases of human trafficking.
Mr Madoda Nasha who was addressing youth about human trafficking at a workshop organised by the Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Spiritual healing and UCCSA churches in Gaborone on Saturday said people were being trafficked for different reasons such as sexual exploitation, forced labour, drug trafficking and organ trafficking.

He mentioned that mostly vulnerable children from poor backgrounds were subjected to forced labour because their parents sent them to work for wealthier families as domestic workers in cities or as herders at remote cattle posts.
Additionally Mr Nasha said women were exploited in sexual work within the country or subjected to trafficking by being transported to neighboring countries.
He furthermore pointed out that Botswana was also considered as a transit for human trafficking because the traffickers passed through the country to South Africa.
Furthermore he said human traffickers identified one’s needs and used them to create an environment that pulled victims closer to them.
Mr Nasha urged people to use social media responsibly because human traffickers used it to their advantage.

He cited the ‘type amen’ trend on Facebook saying there was software that traffickers used such that as one typed amen on chain posts, it became easy for them to access personal information.
He stated that the Anti-human trafficking ACT No 32 of 2014 required Batswana to be well informed for proper effective and address of the issue.
He said persons found guilty of the offence were fined five hundred thousand Pula or imprisonment not exceeding twenty five years or both.

However he said a fine not exceeding one million Pula or a term not exceeding 39 years if offence is aggravated will be given as section 9 stipulates.
One of the youth, Ms Bridget Thaga asked if there was a certain age group that was given priority to be protected from traffickers.
To this, Mr Nasha responded saying there was no special group or age as everyone was vulnerable either young, mature, women or men.
“Anyone can be trafficked,” he added.

He also noted that they were coming up with a plan called National Action Plan stipulating each department’s role on issues concerning trafficking.
Botswana Substance Abuse Network (BOSASNET) official Ms Prisca Mokgadi explained that their main objective was to make the country to be substance abuse free.
Mr Wazha Dambe, BOSASNET counselor engaged youth on discussion to share their knowledge about substance abuse and what they saw in everyday life. ENDS