LUSAKA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian cabinet has approved a national policy on human trafficking and smuggling of migrants in order to ensure a well-coordinated approach to tackle issues of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Chushi Kasanda said the policy, which runs from 2022 to 2026, was approved during a cabinet meeting held on July 22.
"It is in the interest of government to enhance the country's national policy framework in order to address the emerging and persistent challenges on human trafficking and smuggling of migrants," she said in a statement.
According to her, the approval of the policy has further been necessitated by the need to critically address emerging issues and guide interventions aimed at resolving and mitigating the increasing levels of human trafficking.
The spokesperson, who is also information and media minister, further said the cabinet also approved the introduction of a bill in parliament aimed at ensuring the smooth implementation of the policy.
She said when enacted, the anti-human trafficking bill will enhance the country's legal framework to address the emerging and persistent challenges of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.
The cabinet, she said, was worried about Zambia being a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking and smuggling of men, women and children.
It is believed that most trafficking and smuggling that occurs within the country's border involves women and children from rural areas for exploitation in cities for domestic servitude, she added. ■