05 Dec 2023

Members of Parliament have voiced their support for stringent penalties aimed at combating heinous crimes associated with human trafficking.

 In a bid to endorse the Anti-Human Trafficking Bill, lawmakers emphasised the need for Botswana to take a firm stance against individuals involved in activities such as ritual purposes and organ harvesting.

 During the debate on  Anti-Human Trafficking Amendment Bill Ms Beauty Manake, a Specially Elected MP, highlighted the distressing trend of individuals being recruited under false pretenses of employment, only to be exploited later.

She expressed concerns that Botswana might be used as a transit point for human trafficking, underscoring the importance of bolstering the law by imposing mandatory sentences and fines for such offenses.

 

Mr David Tshere,  Mahalapye West MP, emphasised the necessity for the Bill to include deterrent sentences and fines against human trafficking.

 He suggested that individuals found in the country without proper documentation be classified as “irregular.”

 He said the importance of conducting thorough investigations to determine whether such individuals were seeking refugee status or if they were victims of human trafficking.
 Mr Sethabelo Modukanele, representing the Lerala/Maunatlala, acknowledged the well-crafted nature of the Bill but stressed that its effectiveness would only be realised through execution.  
 He emphasised the vital role of enforcing the law by apprehending perpetrators and bringing them to justice.

 Highlighting the magnitude of the human trafficking industry, Mr Aubrey Lesaso, the Shoshong Legislator, revealed that criminals orchestrating these activities were wealthy, highly educated, and sophisticated.

 He further underlined the complexity of the crime and the lasting emotional trauma it inflicted, such as rape and other forms of abuse.

 Supporting the proposed amendments to the Bill, Mr Motsamai Motsamai, the MP for Ghanzi South, commended the direction in which the legislation was heading.
  He called on the government to do more for citizens, ensuring they were not lured into trafficking situations under false promises of better living conditions or job opportunities.
 Additionally, he urged government to enhance security measures at entry points to prevent human trafficking and suggested that such activities should be punishable by capital punishment.
 Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, representing the Francistown South constituency, urged government to formulate laws that could effectively address modern trends in criminal activities. He stressed that human trafficking was a distressing ordeal, citing the recent case of 41 Ethiopians who willingly embarked on a journey in search of greener pastures but were subsequently discovered by the police in Nata, with Botswana being used as a transit route.

 Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe, the Boteti East MP, applauded the timely amendments to the law, aiming to eradicate human trafficking within the country. Mr Lelatisitswe underscored that unemployment could contribute to such crimes, emphasizing the importance of addressing the root causes.  ENDS