US Keeps Zimbabwe on Human Trafficking Watch List Amidst Grave Concerns
The United States has retained Zimbabwe on its list of countries failing to meet minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking, citing large-scale sexual exploitation of girls. According to the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report, Zimbabwe didn’t show significant progress in combating human trafficking compared to the previous period, landing it on the Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that human trafficking is a horrific crime enriching transnational criminal organizations. The report highlights both positive efforts and shortcomings. On the positive side, Zimbabwe identified more trafficking victims, investigated alleged official complicity, and signed an anti-trafficking training agreement with an NGO. However, the government didn’t amend its laws to criminalize all trafficking forms, decreased funding, closed a shelter, and disbanded provincial task forces.
Trafficking in Zimbabwe involves exploiting adults and children in sex trafficking and forced labor, particularly in cattle herding, domestic service, mining, and agriculture (tobacco, sugarcane, cotton farms). Vulnerable groups include unaccompanied children, rural women and girls moving to cities for work, and those in artisanal mining. Traffickers exploit Zimbabweans abroad, especially in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, China, and the Middle East, often through false promises of employment or scholarships.
The report also points to concerning practices like traditional customs (trading daughters for food/money or ngozi reconciliation) making girls vulnerable. Illegal mining syndicates exploit Zimbabweans, including children working as gold panners and ore couriers. Women and children face sex trafficking around mines and border towns (South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia). Refugees and asylum-seekers are also at risk due to limited employment access.
The US recommends Zimbabwe amend its anti-trafficking laws, dedicate resources to the Anti-Trafficking Inter-Ministerial Committee, increase protection services (shelters), and enhance investigations/prosecutions of trafficking crimes (including complicit officials). Other suggestions include regulating labor recruitment companies ethically, expediting court cases, training law enforcement, and collecting human trafficking trend data.
