TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT - ZIMBABWE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 HARARE 000170 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS AF/S FOR S. HILL AF/RSA FOR M. HARPOLE G/TIP FOR R. YOUSEY DEPT FOR G, INL, DRL, PRM DEPT PASS TO USAID FOR M. COPSON AND E. LOKEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN ELAB KFRD PREF SMIG SUBJECT: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT - ZIMBABWE REF: SECSTATE 202745 THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (SBU) This is Embassy Harare's response to questions in paragraphs 27-30 of SECSTATE 202745. -------------- Overview -------------- -- A. (SBU) Zimbabwe is a country of origin, transit and destination for internationally and domestically trafficked persons. Women and young girls are the most at risk group for trafficking. There were increasing reports that women and children were sexually exploited in towns along the border with South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia. Young women and girls are also reportedly lured out of the country to South Africa, China, Egypt, United Kingdom, Canada and Zambia with false employment opportunities. There are no reliable statistics on the extent of the trafficking problem in the country. (SBU) Most information about trafficking comes from anecdotal reports. The best source of information remains the Victim Friendly Unit (VFU) of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM),United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF),and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the area of victim assistance. IOM is currently undertaking a five-country (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, Namibia, and Botswana) regional study on trafficking as well as a Zimbabwe-specific study to examine the extent of child trafficking for sexual exploitation in the country. The government also has requested that IOM participate in and provide funding for a comprehensive joint study on the trafficking problem in the country. -- B. (SBU) Although much work remains to be done, the government has nonetheless made progress in the past year in combating trafficking. The government's most notable achievements of the past year include the following: established an inter-ministerial taskforce on trafficking; sentenced a woman to 48 months in jail for a trafficking a minor into prostitution; senior government officials attended an IOM anti-trafficking seminar; law enforcement, immigration, and social services officials attended training on identifying and assisting trafficking victims; Parliament ratified the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime on March 30, 2006, which opens the way for Zimbabwe to become a party to its trafficking protocol; and senior government officials confirmed plans to draft domestic anti-trafficking legislation in 2007. (SBU) Key senior government officials demonstrate the political will necessary to comprehensively address the trafficking problem. However, the lack of funding remains a serious impediment to enacting anti-trafficking programs. The government generally has a good working relationship with international organizations and NGOs on trafficking-related issues. IOM, UNICEF and several NGOs reported that the VFU, immigration, and social welfare officers generally provided good cooperation on trafficking cases and refer trafficking victims for assistance in an expeditious manner. (SBU) The most at risk group for trafficking appears to be young adults and children (especially women and girls) experiencing economic hardship and seeking a better life. Reports of trafficking included: anecdotes from international organizations and NGOs of young girls from Zimbabwe and surrounding countries exchanging sex for passage into South Africa; Zimbabweans (usually young women) being lured out of the country with lucrative job offers or false marriage proposals; women and children transiting through Zimbabwe to South Africa primarily from Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia; children working as domestic HARARE 00000170 002 OF 010 or agricultural workers in Zimbabwe; children trafficked from rural areas into cities for domestic servitude or prostitution; young girls trafficked from South Africa into Zimbabwe for domestic servitude; and employers demanding sex from undocumented Zimbabwean workers in South Africa, both adults and children, under the threat of deportation. Despite some positive signs, the worsening economic conditions, the increasing illegal immigration to surrounding countries, and the growing number of HIV/AIDS orphans and child-headed households places increasing numbers of individuals, especially children, at risk of exploitation. Unions and NGOs report that child labor is on the rise. Additionally, men, women and children continue to be adversely affected by the government's ongoing campaign of forced evictions and the demolition of homes and businesses in several cities and towns, albeit on a much lesser scale than during the government's infamous 2005 Operation Restore Order in which 700,000 lost their homes, their means of livelihood, or both. -- C. (SBU) The government continues to show interest in protection of victims, support of awareness campaigns, and investigation of trafficking cases. Although the government lacks the necessary funds to carry out most anti-trafficking activities itself, it cooperates with efforts by IOM, UNICEF, and NGOs on these activities. There remains, however, a general lack of understanding about trafficking across all government agencies, especially at the local level, and additional training and resources are required. Overall corruption is not a problem in this area as it does not appear that government officials are involved in trafficking at any level. -- D. (SBU) The government does not systematically monitor its anti-trafficking efforts and periodically make information available either publicly or privately. With the exception of the VFU, law enforcement agencies and prosecutor's offices do not appear to regularly share information or report on cases internally with other agencies or offices. -------------- PREVENTION -------------- -- A. (SBU) The government, including senior officials at law enforcement, immigration, and social welfare agencies, acknowledge that trafficking is a problem in the country. Senior government officials frequently speak out publicly about the dangers of trafficking, illegal migration, prostitution and exploitative labor conditions. However, a few government officials are still not convinced that the country has a large or growing trafficking problem given the lack of quantifiable data. -- B. (SBU) In April 2006, the government established an inter-ministerial taskforce on trafficking, which includes representatives from Home Affairs, Justice, Information, Parliamentarian Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare. The VFU of the ZRP (under the Ministry of Home Affairs),a police unit that deals with children's and sexual abuse cases, has the lead on investigation and tracking of trafficking cases and referral of victims to support services. The Department of Social Welfare (in the Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare) also has several programs for children at risk. The Department of Immigration (in the Ministry of Home Affairs) monitors borders and ports of entry for possible traffickers and victims. The Ministry of Information collaborates on awareness campaigns funded by international organizations and local NGOs. -- C. (SBU) The state-run media continues to print and air messages about the dangers of illegal migration and that warn the public about false employment scams, underage and forced marriages, prostitution and exploitative labor conditions. HARARE 00000170 003 OF 010 During the year, IOM placed awareness messages with the government-sponsored media and established a Safe Migration website. -- D. (SBU) The government is making efforts to address women's and children's issues through new legislation and social programs. Parliament passed a Domestic Violence Bill in December 2006, which was enacted on March 2, 2007. The bill includes an expanded definition of domestic violence that covers psychological and economic abuse. It also streamlines the protection order process and imposes a legal duty on police to protect victims. (SBU) In the area of children's issues, UNICEF is managing a "pooled funding mechanism" for the "Project of Support," which provides funding to social welfare programs such as the National Action Plan (NAP) for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC). Objectives of the NAP are to strengthen coordination for OVC programs, increase the percentage of children with birth certificates (who are then able to access social services),increase school enrollment and retention, and increase access to food and basic services. To date, the project has received commitments of more than US$70 million (over five years) from international donors. (SBU) The Department of Social Welfare continues to provide school fees and books through its Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) and Children in Difficult Circumstances (CDC) programs. The BEAM program pays school fees and related expenses including books and uniforms for some underprivileged children and AIDS orphans. Several child welfare advocacy groups, however, reported that BEAM and other government programs focusing on children were still under-funded given the level of need, and the government often used access to such programs as a political tool to reward supporters. (SBU) In October 2006, the Ministries of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare and Education, Sport and Culture launched a joint program with UNICEF to implement the National Girls Education Plan which seeks to keep girls in school and address other cultural challenges such as early marriage, abuse and economic exploitation. (SBU) The Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare is collaborating with the International Labor Organization (ILO),United Nations Development (UNDP),United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),UNICEF and IOM on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor in Zimbabwe program that will begin in March 2007. The program will address child labor issues and the implementation of ILO Convention 182, including identifying the worst forms of child labor in Zimbabwe and implementing activities pertaining to the prevention of child labor, protection of working children, rehabilitation of the victims and income generating measures (to make it cost-effective for families to release children from work). -- E. (SBU) The government generally has a good working relationship with international organizations and NGOs on trafficking-related issues. Unlike in the previous year, there were no reports of government harassment of NGOs working on the trafficking issue. IOM, Save the Children Norway and Girl Child Network have reported that the government (in particular the VFU of the ZRP, immigration and social welfare) has referred numerous trafficking victims for assistance and has demonstrated an interest in combating trafficking. -- F. (SBU) The Department of Immigration monitors for evidence of trafficking but does not maintain statistics. Senior government officials admit that the growing number of illegal migrants deported from South Africa and Botswana combined with a crippling lack of resources severely impede their ability to effectively screen for trafficking victims. According to GOZ data, South African authorities deported 109,532 Zimbabweans in 2006--more than double the 49,788 deported in 2005. The IOM Reception Center for Zimbabweans HARARE 00000170 004 OF 010 deported from South Africa in the border town of Beitbridge in Zimbabwe works closely with the Departments of Immigration and Social Welfare. IOM Zimbabwe plans include adding an additional protection officer and building capacity to better screen for trafficking victims (pending funding). -- G. (SBU) The government established an inter-ministerial taskforce on trafficking in April 2006. Additionally, the Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) Zimbabwe office recently established a "Human Trafficking Desk" to coordinate Zimbabwe's involvement in international trafficking investigations. It is still not clear if there is adequate coordination between the inter-ministerial taskforce and the individual agencies involved in programs to combat trafficking. The government does have a public corruption commission, but it under-funded and has yet to register any notable accomplishments. -- H. (SBU) The government has yet to develop a national plan of action to address trafficking in persons. The inter-ministerial taskforce has requested that IOM participate in and fund a joint study to assess the problem in the country. Additionally, during interviews for this report, key senior government officials seemed genuinely interested in receiving assistance and training to address the trafficking problem. For example, the legal counsel to Parliament requested assistance in arranging for a trafficking expert to brief the parliamentarian portfolio committee for public service, labor and social welfare. Additionally, the Human Trafficking Desk at Interpol NCB Zimbabwe contacted IOM in January to request training and collaboration on anti-trafficking efforts. -------------- INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS -------------- -- A. (SBU) The country does not have a law specifically prohibiting trafficking. Senior government officials have, however, publicly stated their intention to enact comprehensive domestic anti-trafficking legislation in 2007. Parliament ratified the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime on March 30, 2006 and it is now with the Ministry of Home Affairs pending the formal deposit of instruments of ratification at the UN. According to the legal counsel to Parliament, the legislative body plans to take the necessary steps to ratify the UN protocol on trafficking and incorporate its provisions into domestic law during 2007. (SBU) Trafficking-related crimes are currently addressed under other legislation, primarily the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, the Immigration Act and the Labor Relations Amendment Act. These laws criminalize transporting people across the border for sex, corruption of children and allowing children to reside in or to frequent a brothel, allowing children to consort with or be employed by prostitutes, and forgery of travel documents. In addition, the Criminal Law Act prohibits abduction and the pledging of a female. The constitution and labor law provide that no one may be held in slavery or servitude or be made to perform forced or compulsory labor. Zimbabwean legal experts consider these laws sufficient to cover both internal and external forms of trafficking for sexual exploitation. Additionally, a victim can bring a civil suit against a trafficker under current law. The Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act provides for victim restitution and compensation. -- B. (SBU) The Criminal Law Act provides for the following: -- Procuring another person for unlawful sexual conduct, or to become a prostitute whether inside or outside Zimbabwe, or to leave his or her usual place of residence to become an inmate or frequent a brothel is punishable by a fine, a maximum imprisonment of 2 years (10 years if the person HARARE 00000170 005 OF 010 procured in under 16 years of age),or both. -- Coercing or inducing another person to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with another person by threat or intimidation is punishable by a fine, a maximum imprisonment of 5 years, or both. -- Detaining a person in a brothel or any other premises with the intention that the detained person should engage in unlawful sexual conduct is punishable by a fine, a maximum imprisonment of 1 year, or both. -- Allowing a person under 16 years of age to knowing enter an establishment for the purpose of engaging in unlawful sexual conduct is punishable by a fine, a maximum imprisonment of 7 years, or both. If the person is below the age of 12, the act is punishable by a fine, a maximum imprisonment of 10 years, or both. -- A paren allowing a child under 18 years of age to becomea prostitute is punishable by a fine, a maximum imrisonment of 10 years, or both. -- Living offor facilitating prostitution is punishable by a ine, a maximum imprisonment of 2 years, or both. -- Solicitation of another person for prostitutionis punishable by a fine, a maximum imprisonment f 6 months, or both. -- Sexual intercourse or performing indecent acts with a person under 16 years of age is punishable by a fine, a maximum imprisonment of 10 years, or both. -- Pledging a female person for a forced marriage or to compensation for the death of a relative, or any debt or obligation is punishable by a fine, a maximum imprisonment of 2 years, or both. Any party to the marriage or arrangement may be charged as an accomplice. -- Forgery of a public document or corruptly using a false document is punishable by a fine, a maximum imprisonment of 20 years, or both. -- C. (SBU) The Labor Relations Amendment Act provides for the following: -- Failure of an employer to protect employees' right to fair labor standards (including to pay any employee a wage lower than a prescribed minimum, to require an employee to work more than the maximum hours permitted by law, or to require any employee to work under any conditions or situation which are below prescribed standards) is punishable by a fine, a maximum imprisonment of 2 years, or both. -- Forced labor is punishable by a fine, 2 years' imprisonment, or both. -- Employment of a person under 15 years of age (unless as an apprentice who is over 13 years of age) is punishable by a fine, 2 years' imprisonment, or both. (SBU) The Labor Relations Amendment Act does not specifically include provisions for criminal punishment of labor recruiters who engage in recruitment of laborers using knowingly fraudulent or deceptive offers; for employers or labor agents who confiscate workers' passports or travel documents, switch contracts without the worker's consent as a means to keep the worker in a state of service, or withhold payment of salaries as means of keeping the worker in a state of service. However, prosecutors may be able to use the fair labor standards provisions in the Labor Relations Amendment Act to pursue cases involving such activities. -- D. (SBU) Rape and aggravated indecent assault are punishable by life imprisonment. Incarceration is mandatory for convictions for rape or forcible sexual assault, but HARARE 00000170 006 OF 010 there is no minimum penalty. The media frequently reports on rape cases and convictions. Sentences usually vary from four years to fifteen years, depending on the circumstances of the crime. -- E. (SBU) Prostitution and the activities of brothel owner/operator, clients, pimps, and enforcers are criminalized (as defined in the Criminal Law Act). During the year, there were several media reports regarding concerted efforts by police to halt prostitution throughout the country. Police arrested both prostitutes and clients. -- F. (SBU) During the year, the government did investigate cases of trafficking and registered its first verifiable conviction. The Ministry of Justice confirmed that in June 2006 a magistrate's court in the capital city of Harare convicted a woman under the Criminal Law Act for procuring a person for the purposes of prostitution and sentenced her to 48 months in jail, which she is currently serving. The woman had promised the 16 year old daughter of a friend that she could secure her a lucrative job as a nurse but forced the girl in to prostitution. (SBU) In addition to the case cited above, there were 9 other persons identified as trafficking victims with cases under investigation by the ZRP or pending in the courts (Specific case details not for publishing): -- a 17 year old girl lured from Masvingo to Harare in 2005 with a false job offer. The girl was subjected to sexual exploitation and pornography. She escaped and contacted the ZRP, who referred the girl to Girl Child Network for victim assistance. A criminal case is pending in the Harare Magistrate's Court (CRB# 1408/06). -- a 14 year old orphan given by relatives to a Nigerian trafficker who forced her into prostitution in a brothel in a high-density suburb of Harare. She escaped in August 2006 and contacted the ZRP. The Nigerian trafficker is in custody. A criminal case is pending in the Harare Magistrate's Court (CRB# 1122/06). -- a 15 year old girl lured by a false job offer to South Africa in 2003. She was taken to Mozambique and Zambia where she was forced into prostitution and pornography. She escaped from the trafficker in August 2006 in Beitbridge, Zimbabwe while preparing to cross into South Africa. She was referred by a local NGO to IOM in Beitbridge, who alerted the ZRP. An investigation is ongoing. -- a 14 year old girl lured from the rural area of Mayambara to Chitungwiza with a false job offer. She was subjected to sexual exploitation and pornography. She escaped in August 2006 and contacted the police. An investigation is ongoing (RRB# 1571/06). -- 5 cases of minor girls pledged by relatives or local chiefs to settle obligations--in all cases the girls were forced into domestic servitude--several were sexually abused by the receiving party. Investigations are ongoing. (SBU) The country does not have specific laws that criminalize the acts of labor recruiters who recruit laborers using knowingly fraudulent or deceptive offers or impose on recruited laborers inappropriately high or illegal fees or commissions that create a debt bondage condition for the laborer. The constitution and labor law, however, provide that no one may be held in slavery or servitude or be made to perform forced or compulsory labor. -- G. (SBU) Most information about who is behind trafficking comes from anecdotal reports. Traffickers involved with trafficking to South Africa and other surrounding countries appear to be freelance operators or small crime groups. There are reports that trafficking to the United Kingdom, China, Egypt and Canada involves larger organized trafficking syndicates. Traffickers tend to target young adults and children (especially young women and girls) in desperate HARARE 00000170 007 OF 010 economic circumstances with offers of lucrative jobs, modeling contracts or scholarship opportunities. There is no evidence of any government involvement in or tolerance of trafficking at any level. There is no information on where profits from trafficking are being channeled. -- H. (SBU) The government does investigate cases of trafficking; however, the lack of resources severely impedes its ability. Law enforcement officials use active investigative techniques in trafficking investigations. The domestic laws of the country allow for full use electronic surveillance, undercover operations, and mitigated punishment or immunity for cooperating suspects used by the government. -- I. (SBU) The government does not provide its own specialized training. It did, however, take advantage of anti-trafficking seminars and training offered by IOM and NGOs. During the year, IOM held one seminar on trafficking for senior government officials and four training sessions on how to identify and assist victims of trafficking offered for frontline officers from social services, law enforcement, immigration, and health care agencies. (SBU) In June 2006, the local NGO Girl Child Network launched an anti-trafficking prevention and protection project aimed at young girls. During the year, Girl Child Network held two anti-trafficking workshops, which included local authorities. -- J. (SBU) The government does cooperate with other governments in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases. The government has seconded ZRP officers to the Interpol NCB Zimbabwe office--two of which work on the Human Trafficking Desk. During the year, the Interpol NCB Zimbabwe office cooperated on international trafficking investigations with Interpol NCB offices in Canada, Malawi, South Africa, United Kingdom and Zambia. (SBU) Additionally, the media reported that the government signed a letter of intent with the Government of Indonesia in August 2006 that includes an agreement to fight the prevalence of trafficking of women and children. There are no reports of any meaningful activities resulting from this agreement. -- K. (SBU) There were no reports of extraditions or requests of extradition from Zimbabwe to other countries. There were reports in February that two Zimbabweans were arrested in the United Kingdom for what may prove to be trafficking; however, there is no information that the Zimbabwean Government has requested extradition of the accused. The government has extradition treaties with countries in the region. -- L. (SBU) There is no evidence of government involvement in or tolerance of trafficking, on a local or institutional level. -- M. (SBU) Not applicable per response to question L above. -- N. (SBU) There is no known child sex tourism problem. The country's sexual crimes laws do have extraterritorial coverage. There are no reports of any prosecutions or convictions under the extraterritorial provisions. -- O. (SBU) The government ratified ILO Convention 182 on December 11, 2000. The government ratified ILO Conventions 29 and 105 on August 27, 1998. Parliament ratified the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime on March 30, 2006 and it is now with the Ministry of Home Affairs pending the formal deposit of instruments of ratification at the UN. According to the legal counsel to Parliament, the legislative body plans to take the necessary steps to ratify the UN protocol on trafficking and incorporate its provisions in to domestic law during 2007. The government has not signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children. -------------- HARARE 00000170 008 OF 010 PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS -------------- -- A. (SBU) The government has shown an increasing interest in assisting victims. Although the government does not have sufficient resources to provide for the protection of victims itself in most cases, it cooperates with international organizations and NGOs that provide such services. The ZRP and Department of Immigration have a mechanism for referring victims of trafficking to victim support. An IOM contact reported that law enforcement, immigration and social welfare officials usually refer potential victims in an expeditious manner. (SBU) The Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare directly operates programs in 3 districts to provide orphans and vulnerable children with basic food assistance, support for school fees, counseling for victimizes children, HIV/AIDS education and medical assistance. Additionally, UNICEF announced in February that it had received commitments for over $70 million over five years from international donors to support NAP for OVC programs. (SBU) The Department of Social Welfare (under The Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare) works closely with IOM and Save the Children Norway to provide protection for children deported from South Africa received at the IOM Reception Center in Beitbridge, Zimbabwe. Additionally, the district council of Beitbridge has a dedicated child protection officer and convenes a child protection committee. -- B. (SBU) The government cooperated in the establishment the IOM Reception Center for Zimbabweans deported from South Africa, which opened in May 2006. The Department of Immigration uses a building at the IOM Reception Center for processing deportees and requires that all deportees receive an IOM briefing on safe migration. -- C. (SBU) Whenever any government official, usually police or immigration, becomes aware of potential trafficking victims, the official alerts the VFU of the ZRP, which then alerts one of the international organizations or NGOs (usually IOM, Save the Children Norway or Girl Child Network) to provide victim assistance services. Some victims come to attention of the international organizations or NGOs first, in which case VFU is alerted. VFU officers interview the victim and refer him or her to shelter, health care, counseling, and reintegration services arranged and paid for by IOM or an NGO. VFU and IOM officers also may jointly interview victims when appropriate. (SBU) During the year, the Zimbabwean Embassy in South Africa referred 2 trafficking victims to IOM's Southern Africa Counter-Trafficking Program (SACTAP). -- D. (SBU) The government generally respects the rights of trafficking victims and usually refers a potential victim to IOM or an NGO in an expeditious manner. -- E. (SBU) The government encourages victims to assist in the investigation and prosecution of traffickers. However, the lack of resources impedes the ability of the police to pursue many cases. Foreign victims of trafficking are offered relief from deportation while they receive victim support services and while their cases are being investigated. The Chief of Immigration may offer a temporary employment permit at his discretion. -- F. (SBU) The government refers victims to international organizations and NGOs to provide all forms of victim assistance, including shelter, medical and psycho/social care, rehabilitation and reintegration. -- G. (SBU) The government does not provide its own specialized training, but did take advantage of anti-trafficking seminars and training offered by IOM and NGOs. During the year, IOM held one seminar on trafficking HARARE 00000170 009 OF 010 for senior government officials and four training sessions on how to identify and assist victims of trafficking offered for frontline officers from social services, law enforcement, immigration, and health care agencies. During the year, Girl Child Network project held two anti-trafficking workshops, which included local authorities. -- H. (SBU) The government does not have the resources to provide protection, medical aid, shelter, or financial help to repatriated nationals who are victims of trafficking but refers such cases to IOM for such assistance. -- I. (SBU) The government generally has a good working relationship with international organizations and NGOs on trafficking-related issues. IOM, UNICEF, Save the Children Norway and Save the Children UK regularly meet with government officials to discuss children's issues. IOM also regularly meets with Zimbabwean and South African government officials to discuss immigration issues, including trafficking. IOM, Save the Children Norway and Girl Child Network have reported that the government has referred numerous trafficking victims for assistance and demonstrated an interest in combating trafficking. The government also cooperates with efforts by UNICEF and a local NGO, Streets Ahead, to provide counseling and reunification services for street children referred to orphanages or juvenile detention centers. (SBU) IOM's SACTAP program operates in six countries in the SADC region, including Zimbabwe. The SACTAP program includes victim assistance and rehabilitation, institutional capacity building, research and data collection, and information and awareness raising activities. IOM Zimbabwe also runs a hotline that receives inquiries and reports from the public on migration related issues and is planning to establish a second hotline this year dedicated to trafficking. (SBU) IOM, UNICEF, Save the Children Norway, and Save the Children UK work with trafficking victims through local NGO partners. NGOs include Connect (training for counselors of abuse victims),Corridors of Hope (HIV/AIDs education and counseling),Childline (children's crisis hotline),Streets Ahead (counseling and shelter for children),Girl Child Network (shelter, skills building, and counseling for abused girls),Musasa Project (shelter and counseling for domestic abuse and trafficking victims),and The Center (counseling for HIV/AIDS patients). (SBU) Girl Child Network and Save the Children Norway report that the relationship with local authorities varies by location. In some areas, officials are difficult to work with because they do not understand trafficking or deny any problem exists. In other areas, officials are very cooperative and eager to receive training and other assistance in building capacity. IOM and UNICEF report generally good cooperation from the government. (SBU) Senior government officials demonstrate the political will necessary to comprehensively address the trafficking problem; however, the lack of funding remains a serious impediment to enacting anti-trafficking programs. Zimbabwe is in the seventh year of steep economic decline and the government lacks funding to provide even the most basic public services. There is an estimated 80 percent unemployment in the formal sector. According to officil figures, annual inflation is slightly more tha 1,500 percent (many experts put inflation at mor than twice that amount). Labor unrest is growin, including in the police and military ranks. Te worsening economic conditions are driving a masive exodus out of the country and illegal migratin is on the rise. (SBU) The economic challenges are particular difficulties at the operational level. During the year, the media frequently reported on law enforcement's shortage of functioning vehicles, equipment and fuel. The Criminal Investigative Department (CID) of the ZRP told us that the unit does not HARARE 00000170 010 OF 010 have sufficient funds to pay for basic undercover work or confidential informants. The VFU of the ZRP reported that it SIPDIS needs additional human resources and facilities throughout the country, especially in border towns. -------------- Contact Information -------------- ¶2. (U) Post point of contact for trafficking in persons is Scott C. Higgins; office phone 263-4-250-593, extension 321; fax 263-4-253-000; e-mail HigginsSC@state.gov. The estimated hours spent per officer in preparation of this report are as follows: poloff 40 hours, polasst 5 hours, polchief 3 hours, DCM 1 hour review, AMB 1 hour review. DELL