SILENT SCARS, RESILIENT VOICES: STORIES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN ZAMBIA

Human trafficking is a heinous crime that tears apart lives, leaving scars that may never fully heal. Yet amidst the horror, stories of survival emerge – stories of strength, courage and resilience. These voices remind us of the urgent need to fight this injustice. Below are the stories of three survivors who endured unimaginable hardship but refused to let their experiences define their futures.

Natalia’s Journey: A Childhood Stolen
Natalia Banda, a 21-year-old Malawian woman, was only ten when her life took a tragic turn. Orphaned at a young age, Natalia grew up under the care of her grandmother and uncles. Poverty was a constant shadow, and when a local man named Nyiramize offered her a job doing house chores, her grandmother agreed. As the small income she earned was meant to pay her school fees and support the family.

For two years, Natalia worked for Nyiramize, believing his promises of support. However, one day he suggested they travel to buy clothes for her and reassured her she’d return home that evening. Instead, he took her across the border into Zambia via a thick forest avoiding detection.

In Zambia, Natalia’s world unraveled. Forced to work as a domestic servant for Nyiramize and his brother, she endured years of sexual exploitation. Isolated from her family and trapped in a foreign country, she had no way to escape. At 18, she became pregnant, which enraged Nyiramize and led to further physical abuse.

In her desperation, Natalia sought refuge with a family from her church. Claiming she was an orphan, she convinced them to take her in. Despite finding temporary safety, her past caught up with her when she married a Zambian man. Nyiramize claimed she was his wife and sued her husband for marriage interference.

It was only when her husband travelled to Malawi and located Natalia’s family that the truth came to light. Her family revealed they had believed she was dead after losing contact for so many years. Although Nyiramize was eventually charged with child sexual abuse, the absence of strong anti-trafficking laws at the time meant he escaped prosecution for trafficking.

Though Natalia’s case was before he existence of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2008, Nyiramize was eventually arrested and charged with child abuse and sexual exploitation. While justice was served in part, Natalia’s story Natalia’s story illustrates how trust and poverty can be exploited by traffickers.

Lishebo’s Escape: A Promise Betrayed
Lishebo, a talented 20-year-old hairdresser from Lukulu, Western Province, dreamed of a better life. Lishebo was known for her beauty and talent in hairdressing. Her skills made her popular among the villages boys who wanted her hand in marriage and her family had high hopes for her future. However, financial struggles meant she couldn’t continue her education beyond primary school.

When her aunt, a salon owner in Lusaka, visited the village in December 2012, she offered what seemed like a golden opportunity. She promised to employ Lishebo in her salon, pay her a monthly salary and enroll her in night school so she could finish her education. The family eagerly agreed, believing this was the chance of a lifetime for Lishebo.

Upon arriving in Lusaka, Lishebo was optimistic about her new life. The first few days at the salon were enjoyable and she began to dream of supporting her family back home. But her aunt’s true intentions soon emerged. She began pressuring Lishebo to entertain patrons at the bar she ran alongside the salon, hinting that mingling with the “right people” could improve her prospects at a better life. When Lishebo refused, her aunt turned abusive, denying her food and cutting off her education. With no access to money and no way to contact her family, Lishebo’s health began to deteriorate.

One evening, while serving drinks at the bar, her breakthrough came when a patron of the bar, who recognized her from her village, struck up a conversation with her, were she shared all that she had been going through. Upon hearing her story, he gave her enough money to return home and he thereafter, reported the case to the Zambia Police’s Victim Support Unit.

Lishebo’s experience highlights how traffickers often exploit family relationships and promises of opportunity to trap their victims.

Rosemary’s Ordeal: A Dream Shattered
For Rosemary, a 23-year-old from a border town in Zambia, the promise of a well-paying job in South Africa felt like a dream come true. Her childhood friend Chella offered her a position with an NGO, complete with a house and car and a monthly salary of $1,000. Encouraged by her mother, who even contributed to her travel costs, Rosemary set off with Chella, trusting him completely,believing it would benefit the family.

The journey began uneventfully, but at the Zimbabwean border, Chella avoided official checkpoints and led Rosemary across the river at an unguarded spot. Though puzzled, she didn’t question him, believing he knew the best way to reach South Africa.

By nightfall, they reached Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, where Chella’s true intentions became clear. He locked Rosemary in a room under the pretence that he went to look for something to eat and later returned with another man. Both men, drunk and laughing, subjected her to horrific sexual violence. Over the following weeks, Rosemary was repeatedly assaulted, starved and threatened. Her captors warned her that any attempt to escape would result in harm to her family.

Desperate, Rosemary realized her only chance of survival was to build trust with one of her captors. She slowly convinced him to allow her short, unmonitored walks. During one of these outings, she found a payphone and contacted her mother, who immediately alerted the police in Zambia.

Thanks to training provided by organizations like the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Zambian police recognized the case as human trafficking and coordinated with their Zimbabwean counterparts. Rosemary was rescued and her captors were arrested.

Today, Rosemary is back in Zambia, recovering with the help of counseling and support. Her bravery in escaping and seeking help highlights the importance of cross-border cooperation in fighting.

The stories of Natalia, Lishebo and Rosemary reveal how trafficking thrives on vulnerability and deception. They also serve as powerful reminders of the resilience of survivors and the critical need for intervention. By amplifying their voices, we can inspire action to prevent others from falling victim. Every story shared is a step closer to ending human trafficking and creating a world where everyone can live free from exploitation.