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Nyore Madzianike Senior Reporter
A MEMBER of the human trafficking syndicate which trafficked six women into virtual slavery in Kuwait between 2015 and 2016 by promising them good jobs as maids, was on Monday jailed for 10 years by a Harare magistrate.

James Marodza was jailed by Harare regional magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande, who convicted him of six counts of human trafficking after trial.

Mrs Makwande said Marodza’s acts infringed on the rights and freedoms of the six women.

Evidence during the trial showed that the six had their passports confiscated by their employers on arrival in Kuwait, that they were forced to work up to 22 hours a day.

They were called “khadama”, which means slave and were prevented from communicating with anyone else, including their families.

Mrs Makwande said the “horrific testimonies” that were given by the six women during Marodza’s trial entailed that some of them will never live a normal life in future.

They were rescued by the Government which had to investigate, help them escape, process temporary travel documents and then arrange for them to fly home.

“The Government had to intervene and send people to investigate on the conditions that the women were living in while in a foreign land,” said Mrs Makwande. “The Government had to make sure that the women returned home by processing temporary travel documents through the embassy.

“This means that he (Marodza) prejudiced the Government and also left the country in the spotlight over the offences.”

Mrs Makwande noted that there was serious violations of the women’s liberties, freedom of association and movement during the time they were enslaved in Kuwait.

“That alone shows the seriousness of the offence that he is facing and it calls for imprisonment,” said Mrs Makwande, before jailing Marodza for 10 years.

The State, led by Mrs Netsai Mushayabasa, proved that between December 2015 and March 2016, Marodza unlawfully and intentionally recruited unsuspecting victims to Kuwait using Facebook and WhatsApp platforms. He misrepresented to the women that housemaids in Kuwait were paid handsomely, before sending them pictures of some girls he said were well paid in the Middle East country.

The victims sent their medical examination certificates and police clearances to Marodza and communication was through a WhatsApp number.