ANGLICANS in Livingstone, the tourist capital of Zambia, have
been urged to be vigilant, as the city seeks to fight
child-trafficking.
The Revd Emmanuel Chikoya, of Livingstone West, has warned that
the UN World Tourism Organisation General Assembly meeting next
month, which the city is co-hosting, will create "a perfect
environment for people to be trafficked, especially for sexual
services and any other form of cheap labour. When people notice an
unusual number of children in their neighbourhood, they should
question such occurrences."
Livingstone, close to the border with Zimbabwe, is a prime
location for human trafficking, but it is hoped that the city's
partnership with the International Labour Organization will help to
prevent such activities. Women and younger children are most at
risk of being trafficked.
The Livingstone Anglican Children's Project, of which Mr Chikoya
is project director, has been active in trying to prevent
trafficking in the area, and church members have re- cently helped
to prevent 32 children from being taken over the border.
Mr Chikoya said that fighting these activities "requires
co-operation and support from everyone, including members of the
community".