By JOHN SAKALA
Two Zambian are suspected to have fallen prey to human trafficking.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Major General Jackson Miti has disclosed that two women reported to the Mission in Pretoria of having been trafficked to that country after being offered jobs as hair dressers.
Major General Miti said the two women have since been repatriated to Zambia after the intervention of the Mission.
He said indications were that there was a syndicate of some Zambians working in collaboration with identified nationals to traffic women on the pretext that they would be employed as hair dressers.
Major General Miti said once the victims were transported, they would initially work in hair saloons for a few weeks before being forced into sex work.
He said there was a possibility that the numbers of people duped could be higher as most of the victims had their travel documents confiscated and blackmailed, hence making it difficult to get in touch with authorities.
Maj Gen Miti has since appealed to Zambian women being recruited as hair dressers to be cautious of the offers.
He said people should first get adequate information through the Mission in Pretoria before travelling.
Maj Gen Miti said the Mission was working closely with South African authorities to ensure that cases of Zambian women being duped into sex trade were curtailed.
This is according to a media statement made available to the Independent Observer by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Embassy in South Africa Naomi Nyawali.
