A 23-year-old Zimbabwean man has been sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment by the Francistown Magistrates Court for trafficking four minors aged between 9 and 15.
Arnold Nyoni who hails from the border town of Plumtree was nabbed two weeks ago, at a roadblock mounted along the Francistown – Matsiloje road. In his initial court appearance Nyoni pleaded guilty for being in Botswana illegal and for trafficking the two boys and two girls.
Nyoni told Principal magistrate Kabelo Magetse that he was on transit to South Africa with the children, where the mothers of the minors were working.
“The mothers of these children have asked me to transport and smuggle them from Zimbabwe through Botswana to South Africa. They trusted me this why they asked. I am also related to the parents of the children,” divulged Nyoni.
In his ruling, Magetse in his ruling said, “the parents of the children noted the sole purpose for smuggling the children was so that they could be temporarily reunited with their children whom most said they had not seen in a long time.”
From evidence given in the children’s court, the minors said they were not harmed during the smuggling process and were well taken care of during their stay in Botswana. The children were placed under foster care until they were re united with their mothers who had travelled from South Africa. “Though they all wanted to return home as soon as possible.”
Magetse pointed out that the prevalence of child smuggling from neighbouring Zimbabwe into the area has reached alarming levels.
“This is evidenced by the instant case and many reported cases in the media. The smuggling of Zimbabwean children into Botswana has reached alarming proportions. Given the severity of this problem it is imperative that immediate action be taken”, urged Magetse.
Nyoni was also slapped with a three-year sentence for residing in Botswana illegally. A sentence which was suspended for two years. Both sentences will run concurrently.
“However 24 months are wholly suspended on condition the accused does not commit a similar offence in the next three years,” said Magetse in his sentence.
