Staff Writer
International relations and co-operation minister, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has said that she is aware of a syndicate operating in Namibia and trafficking people to Oman in the Middle East, with 31 people having fallen victim so far.
The women are recruited as domestic workers in Oman, allegedly in pursuit of greener pastures.
Some are said to have sent voice notes to Namibian crying out for help, the minister revealed in the National Assembly Wednesday afternoon.
She revealed that 21 have so far been safely whisked back into the country via the Hosea Kutako International Airport at the cost of their families.
So far, 10 still remain stuck in Oman.
“The remaining ten (10) victims have indicated their wish in returning to Namibia as soon as possible, pending their family members securing the required funds to assist them, with travel expenses as well as the cancellation of the debt bondage fee, linked to the visas and other expenses.”
“It is believed that the employers (Sponsors) indicated that they would only release the victims upon receipt of their reimbursement of a bondage fee that ranges between Thirty-Seven Thousand Namibian dollars, (N$ 37000.00) and Fifty Thousand (N$ 50 000.00),” she said.
Government has been aware of this since February 2022 while the victim’s ages range from 27-40 years.
The minister said reports are that the victims allegedly hitch-hiked from Namibia to South Africa and boarded planes to Oman, after their documentation was arranged by the agents in Oman, using South Africa as a transit country.
Another report is that the prospective employers (Sponsors) in Oman avail funds to the agent in Namibia, to facilitate the logistical and travel expenses including air tickets.
In addition, the Namibian recruitment agent also charges facilitation fees for arranging employment opportunities, she said.
“Upon arrival in Oman, the employers (sponsors) would confiscate the victim’s passports and cellphones and compel them to sign employment contracts in Arabic, with strict and mandatory provisions. It has been further reported that the victims are working under horrendous conditions and are expected to work 19 hours per day, 7 days a week with very few resting hours.”
“In a plea to the Government, some of the victims sent voice notes to family members appealing for assistance by Government in rescuing them from their respective “sponsors” and assisting them to repatriate them back to Namibia,” said the minister.
INTERPOL-NCB Windhoek and INTERPOL-NCB Muscat, held a virtual meeting on Tuesday, 13th June 2022, to discuss possible ways of relocating the victims to a safe house.
The minister disclosed that necessary repatriation processes are being arranged with the families.
“As of Thursday, 30th of June 2022, twenty-one (21) out of the thirty-one (31) victims have safely returned to Namibia from Oman, through the Hosea Kutako International Airport, with ten (10) Namibians still in Oman. It should be noted that the cost of the repatriation of the victims back to Namibia has been carried by the victims’ Families.”
“To date, a criminal case was registered under case number Windhoek CR260/06/2022. The case relates to the contravention of Sections 3, subsection 1 (e), (d), Section 4-19 (c), (d) and Section 5 (a) and (b) of Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, Act 1 of 2018.”
“The case is still under investigation and when the time is opportune, and if evidence so dictates, then an arrest will be affected. This is an important case and the Police and other stakeholders are carefully gathering and considering evidence before the matter is placed on the court roll.”
“The Government has made arrangements that when victim(s) arrive in Namibia, they are to be received by the Namibian Police Force and referred to Social Workers at the Ministry of Health and Social Services, for psycho-social support and trauma counselling before their statements are obtained by police,” she said.
Health Care services are also said to be arranged and provided at existing the health facilities.
The minister said should long term care and support be required social workers will be available in the regions where they can make follow ups, provided contact and residential address of those who need such care are provided.
“I wish to appeal to the Namibian public to remain vigilant in cases of this nature, as trafficking in persons are on the increase not only in Namibia but worldwide. Economic migrants should be aware that the grass is not always greener on the other side, as the entire world is in an economic crisis following the COVID-19 Pandemic and other global disasters.”
“Under the guidance of the National Committee on Combating Human Trafficking, which I have the honour to Chair, the National awareness campaign on Trafficking in Persons will be intensified, in collaboration with all the various stakeholders.”
“Finally, the Government is appealing to those who are aware of cases of Trafficking in Persons to engage the Namibian Police as soon as possible. MIRCO will continue to update the nation through different media platforms about the progress made on the repatriation of Namibians,” she said.
