A Zimbabwean man, Nyoni, has been sentenced to a year in prison for smuggling children to South Africa. The Francistown Magistrate, Tshepo Magetse, handed down the sentence after Nyoni pleaded guilty to the charge.
The case highlights a disturbing trend of child smuggling from Zimbabwe to South Africa, with Botswana being used as a transit route.
According to reports, the magistrate noted that the children are forced to undertake a treacherous journey to visit their parents during school recess, only to return to Zimbabwe when schools reopen.
“As schools in Zimbabwe close for recess, a surge in child smuggling to South Africa to visit their parents has emerged, with Botswana becoming a key and terrifying transit route.
“The cycle of suffering continues when schools reopen. These children are then compelled to undertake the treacherous journey to Zimbabwe,” this was an observation made by Francistown Magistrate, Tshepo Magetse, when delivering sentence against a Zimbabwean man convicted of smuggling children.
Nyoni, who claimed to be the breadwinner for his family, pleaded for leniency and a non-custodial sentence.
“I am sorry I will not repeat the offence. It was my first time committing an offence. I am the breadwinner, so if i’m taken to prison no one will take care of my family,” he said.
However, the magistrate emphasized that smuggling is a serious offense that carries a fine of up to P200,000 or imprisonment for up to 15 years.
“It must be noted that the accused sought for the court to show mercy when sentencing him and that he pleaded for a non-custodial sentencing. The fact that he pleaded guilty is a sign that on his own will, he acknowledged that his conduct was wrong, and all the parents took responsibility for accused person actions as they are the ones who asked him to transport and smuggle them,” continued the magistrate.
Interestingly, the parents of the smuggled children attributed the root cause of the problem to the high passport fees in Zimbabwe, pleading with the court to urge the Botswana government to intervene and request a reduction in passport costs.
