Zambia reveals syndicate trafficking women to South Africa for prostitution

Zambian authorities on Thursday revealed that there was a syndicate in which some unscrupulous people were trafficking women from Zambia and forcing them to work as prostitutes in South Africa.

Jackson Miti, Zambia's High Commissioner to South Africa said the syndicate involves some Zambians working with South Africans who were duping the women on the pretext they were going to work as hair dressers in South Africa.

He said two women have since been repatriated to Zambia after the intervention of the Zambian embassy in South Africa.

"There is a possibility that the numbers of people duped could be higher as most of the victims had their travel documents confiscated and blackmailed, hence making it difficult to get in touch with authorities," he said in a release.

The Zambian envoy urged women being recruited as hair dressers to be cautious of the offers and added that the embassy was working with South African authorities to ensure that such cases are curtailed.