PG questions Kavango’s low human trafficking numbers

Only two human trafficking cases have been registered with the police in the Kavango regions over the past four years, raising questions about the true scale of the problem.This was revealed by prosecutor general advocate Olivia Martha Imalwa during the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons commemoration held in Rundu on 30 July.Imalwa said the low number of reported cases does not match the realities on the ground and pointed to serious gaps in awareness and institutional response.“There are only two cases currently pending on the Rundu court roll – one from 2022 and another still under investigation this year,” she said. “One wonders why, in almost four years, only two cases have been registered with the police.”She said law enforcement agencies often lack the training to identify and act on trafficking crimes. “There is limited understanding of what trafficking in persons means and how these crimes are committed. This hampers detection, reporting and justice.”Vulnerable children exploitedImalwa questioned why clear signs of abuse, such as children being used as domestic workers and high rates of teenage pregnancy, are not reflected in court statistics. “We know what is happening. So why are the cases not showing up?”She called for a stronger national response. “Fighting this scourge requires trained, passionate people. Our victims must feel safe enough to speak and that starts with all of us understanding our roles.”Taken home In her keynote address, international relations and trade minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi said Namibia had repatriated six victims of trafficking from Southeast Asia between June 2024 and June 2025. Five were from Myanmar and one from Laos. Four additional victims were repatriated from Namibia to Angola, Botswana and Zambia.“Behind every statistic is a human life,” Ashipala-Musavyi said. “A child robbed of innocence, a woman denied freedom, and a man stripped of dignity. Our collective response must be victim-centred, rooted in justice and compassion.”phillipus@nmh-hub.com.na

PG questions Kavango’s low human trafficking numbers

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-04

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PG questions Kavango’s low human trafficking numbers

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-04

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