By Doris Sialusunga, CNCS

TAKUZA, the national faith-based network of Catholic Sisters working to end human trafficking in Zambia, joined the world in commemorating the 2025 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

During the event held in Lusaka, the government also launched the 2025–2027 National Action Plan on Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants.

Speaking on behalf of Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security Permanent Secretary Dickson Matembo, Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Department, Boris Mulengu called for coordinated action and said that human trafficking was not only a serious violation of human rights but also undermined the rule of law, promoted corruption and posed a threat to national security.

Mr. Mulengu disclosed that Zambia recorded 41 cases in 2024 involving 194 victims and 46 suspects.

“The country remains a source, transit, and destination for victims of human trafficking. The government is alive, raising trends in internal trafficking, where individuals are lured from rural to urban areas under the false promises of employment, education, or marriage, only to be exploited in forced labor, domestic servitude, or sexual exploitation,” he said.

Mr. Mulengu urged all stakeholders to partner with the government and employers to demonstrate zero tolerance for labor exploitation.

“Let us remember behind every statistic is a human life. A young girl sold into servitude, a teenage boy forced into illegal mining, a mother trafficked for labor abroad. These are not just numbers,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sr. Mary Milimo highlighted the need for collective effort and said that human trafficking was real and taking place in local communities.

“Most people do not know anything about human trafficking, something they think is just a story. They do not know that it is really happening. So, we need to engage more people and everyone must take an active part in raising awareness against human trafficking because this is work that cannot be done alone,” she said.

Owen Chibambo, Programs Officer for Migration at TAKUZA, stressed the importance of public awareness as most people do not even believe human trafficking is real.

‘’Most people think it is for other countries. That is why the awareness campaigns are critical,”Mr. Chibambo said.

And TAKUZA Youth Ambassador Duza Jones urged young people to speak out against exploitation and said they could not afford to keep quiet as they were the most targeted group, especially through social media and fake job offers.

“We must use our talents such as music, poetry, drama and media to speak out against exploitation,” Mr. Jones said.

The event included participation from Save the Children Zambia, the United Nations and other stakeholders.