ZIMBABWE has been ranked as one of the countries worst affected by modern-day slavery, with about 99 600 estimated victims, the latest Global Slavery Index has revealed.
BY OBEY MANAYITI
The report released yesterday showed that there were an estimated 248 700 modern-day slaves in South Africa alone.
The index examined practices such as forced labour, human trafficking, debt bondage, child exploitation and forced marriage.
“In 2016, the estimates of modern-day slavery in Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for approximately 13,6% of the world’s total enslaved population,” read the report.
Human rights expert and senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, Dewa Mavhinga said such revelations were tragic.
“It’s is both tragic and telling that in terms of prevalence of modern-day slavery, Zimbabwe is ranked number five. This shows that the scourge of modern-day slavery and trafficking of persons is a silent problem given insufficient attention in the country,” he said.
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“Zimbabwe needs to tighten its laws and increase significantly the punishment for those involved in slavery and trafficking. The country should also provide immediate and long-term support to victims like the hundreds of women trafficked and sold into slavery in Kuwait.
“The government must show decisive leadership and fund programmes to warn citizens to be aware of dubious schemes that could end in slavery for unsuspecting members of the public,” Mavhinga said.
The report also revealed the prevalence of commercial sexual exploitation across Southern Africa. The problem was particularly prevalent, where internal violence and political instability coexisted. The report revealed that modern-day slavery in the sub-Saharan region was enabled by worsening economic conditions, violent conflict and territorial displacement, in addition to widespread humanitarian and environmental crises.
The report highlighted the vulnerability of civil and political protections, social, health, economic rights as well as the personal security of citizens.
It was estimated 45,8 million people were living in slavery globally, with more than half of them, 58%, in China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan. North Korea ranked highest on the scale, with one in every 20 people — or 4,4% of its 25 million population — in slavery.
The report also showed that North Korea, Iran, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea and Hong Kong were doing the least to combat slavery.
