By KAIKO NAMUSA –
THE Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered Police in Muchinga Province to intensify the search for parents accused of selling children to business executives in neighbouring Tanzania.
Home Affairs spokesperson, Moses Suwali said child trafficking was against the law and that parents involved in the act, should be arrested to face justice.
Eleven children, aged between 11 and 16, had been sold to business people in Tanzania in Nakonde’s Tewele Village of Chief Nawaitwika’s area.
Mr Suwali warned that Government would not allow people to engage in child trafficking, a vice that authorities were fighting.
“I want to caution anyone involved in child trafficking especially parents, that the law will pounce on them very hard. Those parents from Tewele Village and the headman need to be arrested so that they can face justice for their actions. I urge the Police in that area to intensify the search for these people,” Mr Suwali said.
He said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that child trafficking had devastating emotional effects on victims and parents should realise the dangers of engaging in such activities for monetary gains.
He said suspects that had run to neighbouring countries would be tracked down using necessary channels such the intervention of the Joint Permanent Commissions with other neighbouring countries.
Latest reports indicated that authorities in Muchinga Province had managed to rescue four of the children.
ZANIS reports that a village headman suspected to be the mastermind behind the illegal activity was on the run and a manhunt had been launched.
Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Bwalya Ngándu and Nakonde District Commissioner James Singoyi confirmed the recovery of the four children.
Dr Ngándu said following reports of human trafficking in Tewele, he directed security wings in the border town to investigate the matter.
Dr Ngándu said the remaining seven children had not been recovered as they were believed to have been taken to far places in Tanzania.
He assured that efforts were being made to locate the children and bring them back to Zambia.
Mr Singoyi said the combined security team in Nakonde would continue investigations as well as sensitising the local people on the dangers of human trafficking.
