Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09HARARE650
2009-08-12 08:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
ZIMBABWEAN WORKERS RECOUNT TRAFFICKING TO ANGOLA
how-toVZCZCXRO0398 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSB #0650/01 2240832 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 120832Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4799 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0099
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000650
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B. WALCH
DRL FOR N. WILETT
G/TIP FOR R. YOUSEY AND J. SIGMON
STATE PASS TO DOL FOR S. HALEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KTIP ECON ELAB ASEC PGOV PREL ZI AO CH
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWEAN WORKERS RECOUNT TRAFFICKING TO ANGOLA
-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000650
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B. WALCH
DRL FOR N. WILETT
G/TIP FOR R. YOUSEY AND J. SIGMON
STATE PASS TO DOL FOR S. HALEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KTIP ECON ELAB ASEC PGOV PREL ZI AO CH
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWEAN WORKERS RECOUNT TRAFFICKING TO ANGOLA
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) At least seven Zimbabwean men were recently trafficked to
Angola to work on a construction project after they answered a job
advertisement posted by a Chinese-managed company in Harare. On
arrival in Angola, the men discovered that the recipient
Chinese-managed company was not prepared to provide the men with
contracts, freedom of movement, or adequate food, clean water, or
shelter. With the help of a Zimbabwean diplomat and a Zimbabwean
businessman in Angola, six of the men have returned to Zimbabwe
after some spent three months in unsanitary, forced labor
conditions. One remains in Luanda, hoping that the company's
promises of remuneration will come through. Because Zimbabwe does
not have an anti-trafficking law, four of the men are pursuing a
case against the Chinese recruiting company through the Zimbabwean
government's Ministry of Labor. END SUMMARY.
--------------
Chinese Company Recruits Skilled Laborers
--------------
2. (SBU) On August 4, 2009, we interviewed three of seven Zimbabwean
men who were recently trafficked to Angola after they answered an
advertisement recruiting construction workers for a project in
Angola. We spoke with a project manager, welder, and driver. Other
victims included a mechanic, an electrician, a builder, and a
driver. The project manager, Shingai Siraha, has become the de
facto leader of this group of trafficking victims.
3. (SBU) All of the men responded to advertisements posted in Harare
around October or November 2008 directing them to Costam
Investments, located in downtown Harare. The workers were
interviewed by a Chinese man, Mr. Li (hereafter referred to as the
recruiter),and two Zimbabwean men known as Banda and Baurain. When
Costam Investments advised the workers they would be hired for
construction jobs in Angola, they took the workers' passports to
process visas and work permits. Initially, the recruiter promised
the men that they would leave within a month, but the promises
dragged on until the men finally left in two groups in late March
and mid-April, 2009.
4. (SBU) The Angolan embassy in Harare processed tourist visas for
the men, at least two of which were signed by the same consular
officer. The men never completed visa application forms but
submitted photos to Costam Investments staff who completed the
paperwork on their behalf. The recruiter promised the men that they
would receive work permits and contracts on arrival in Luanda. The
recruiter advised the men to tell Angolan immigration officials they
were traveling on vacation to visit friends. Four visas were
processed in the name of the sending company, Costam Investments,
and three were processed in the name of the receiving company in
Angola, Gindungo Comercio Geral.
--------------
"We didn't even have a toilet"
--------------
5. (SBU) The three men we met arrived in Angola on April 17 and were
taken to the local company, Gindungo Comercio Geral, run by the
recruiter's uncle, also known as Mr. Li (hereafter referred to as
the receiver). When they reached the company, they met four
Zimbabweans who had arrived two weeks earlier. The receiver
informed all seven men that he had heard that Zimbabweans were
suffering and willing to work in any conditions. Five of the
Qsuffering and willing to work in any conditions. Five of the
Zimbabwean workers asked to leave immediately; two others agreed to
stay, hoping the receiver would fulfill his promises of improved
conditions. The receiver told the workers that he needed to hold
their passports to make travel arrangements to facilitate their
return.
6. (SBU) The men were forced to stay at the company's construction
site and not allowed to leave. They were not supposed to have cell
phones, but a couple of the men managed to conceal their phones.
They built their own shelter from scrap corrugated aluminum at the
site. Because the facility lacked a toilet, the men were forced to
sneak out the fence and find bushes nearby. The receiver brought
them food every few days, although it was often rotten and
inadequate. Three Chinese men also living at the site had a shelter
with electricity and a separate, clean water tank. The seven
Zimbabwean men (most in their 30s and 40s) also reported that there
were five Angolans who were also held in similar forced labor
conditions at the site. They believed these young men were between
the ages of 16 and 20 and had been trafficked from rural Angola.
HARARE 00000650 002 OF 003
The twelve forced laborers did not have enough blankets or mosquito
nets.
7. (SBU) Fortunately, the trafficking victims met a Zimbabwean
businessman, Mr. Mlambo, during their flight to Luanda. Using one
of their contraband cell phones, the men managed to secretly call
Mlambo to seek his help in contacting the Zimbabwean embassy for
assistance. On April 21, Siraha and four others went to the
Zimbabwean embassy and met with the financial counselor, Misheck
Makuyana, who proved helpful throughout their ordeal. Makuyana
provided the men with a letter from the Zimbabwean Ambassador asking
Gindungo to provide them with return flights to Zimbabwe.
8. (SBU) On April 23, the company purchased tickets to allow three
of the men to return to Harare, none of whom were paid for the work
they performed in Luanda. The receiver claimed the flight was full,
and the rest of the men could travel the following week. After
several subsequent weeks of delays and excuses, Siraha again
contacted Makuyana on June 10 to request additional help in leaving,
as the company claimed to not have funds to repatriate the workers.
Makuyana again contacted the company, and on June 12 the rest of the
men returned to Zimbabwe with air tickets purchased by Gindungo.
Makuyana also advised the men how to pursue their case against the
recruiting company, Costam Investments, on arrival in Harare through
the labor courts. This group of victims did not see other
Zimbabwean trafficking victims in Angola. However, one victim
overheard the receiver comment that soon they would have a "village"
of 150-200 Zimbabweans in Angola.
9. (SBU) One Zimbabwean, a builder, remains in Luanda. Siraha told
us the builder was desperate for cash to support his family and did
not want to return home empty-handed. He chose to stay in Luanda,
hoping things would improve. Siraha and the other victims are
unsure if the Zimbabwean embassy is aware that he has stayed in
Luanda. They also explained that the builder's tourist visa has now
expired. The victims believe Angola fines visitors who overstay
their visas $300 per day, and they believe this threat will further
entrap their colleague who stayed behind.
--------------
Victims Seek Recourse Through Zim Labor Court
--------------
10. (SBU) Because Zimbabwe does not have comprehensive
anti-trafficking legislation, the men have sought recourse through
the Ministry of Labor, where they are seeking compensation from
Costam Investments. The men are asking to be paid for lost wages
between November and June and additional damages. In an initial
hearing on June 22, the Labor Officer responsible for the case
appeared to side with the victims and asked them to submit
additional detailed documents to claim damages against Costam.
After June 22, however, representatives of Costam failed to attend
hearings on three occasions, and the Labor Officer became
increasingly unresponsive.
11. (SBU) When the victims realized the Labor Officer was not
documenting their case, they sought help from the local office of
Transparency International (TI),which helped them secure an
appointment with the Permanent Secretary, the top bureaucrat in the
Labor Ministry, on July 24. In that meeting, the Permanent
Secretary berated the Labor Officer for improperly handling the case
and not documenting events. Since that meeting, the case appears to
Qand not documenting events. Since that meeting, the case appears to
be moving in the right direction. The men now have a hearing
scheduled for August 7, and summons have been issued to all parties,
including Costam. Their initial visit to TI led to referrals to the
International Organization for Migration, Interpol, the U.S.
Embassy, and local pro bono legal and medical assistance.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
12. (SBU) This case highlights the vulnerability of Zimbabweans to
trafficking schemes and the difficulties victims face in seeking
justice against traffickers. In particular, Zimbabwe's large pool
of skilled, unemployed laborers makes for easy prey for those
seeking to exploit workers' desperation. These men are
extraordinarily fortunate that they met a Zimbabwean businessman
living in Angola who led them to the helpful diplomat at the
Zimbabwean embassy in Luanda. Without their quick-acting
compatriots, the men would probably still be forced laborers. In
all likelihood, other Zimbabweans have been trafficked by the same
group of Chinese to other sites in Angola or elsewhere.
13. (SBU) Given Zimbabwe's recent Tier 3 ranking in the Trafficking
HARARE 00000650 003 OF 003
in Persons report, we have been actively liaising with government
officials on the urgent need for anti-trafficking legislation and
better support systems to help victims. Government officials in
both major political parties agree there is a need for such
legislation, and we are using this ongoing case as an example of the
kinds of victims improved government action could help. END
COMMENT.
14. (U) U.S. Embassy Luanda has cleared this cable.
DHANANI
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B. WALCH
DRL FOR N. WILETT
G/TIP FOR R. YOUSEY AND J. SIGMON
STATE PASS TO DOL FOR S. HALEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KTIP ECON ELAB ASEC PGOV PREL ZI AO CH
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWEAN WORKERS RECOUNT TRAFFICKING TO ANGOLA
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) At least seven Zimbabwean men were recently trafficked to
Angola to work on a construction project after they answered a job
advertisement posted by a Chinese-managed company in Harare. On
arrival in Angola, the men discovered that the recipient
Chinese-managed company was not prepared to provide the men with
contracts, freedom of movement, or adequate food, clean water, or
shelter. With the help of a Zimbabwean diplomat and a Zimbabwean
businessman in Angola, six of the men have returned to Zimbabwe
after some spent three months in unsanitary, forced labor
conditions. One remains in Luanda, hoping that the company's
promises of remuneration will come through. Because Zimbabwe does
not have an anti-trafficking law, four of the men are pursuing a
case against the Chinese recruiting company through the Zimbabwean
government's Ministry of Labor. END SUMMARY.
--------------
Chinese Company Recruits Skilled Laborers
--------------
2. (SBU) On August 4, 2009, we interviewed three of seven Zimbabwean
men who were recently trafficked to Angola after they answered an
advertisement recruiting construction workers for a project in
Angola. We spoke with a project manager, welder, and driver. Other
victims included a mechanic, an electrician, a builder, and a
driver. The project manager, Shingai Siraha, has become the de
facto leader of this group of trafficking victims.
3. (SBU) All of the men responded to advertisements posted in Harare
around October or November 2008 directing them to Costam
Investments, located in downtown Harare. The workers were
interviewed by a Chinese man, Mr. Li (hereafter referred to as the
recruiter),and two Zimbabwean men known as Banda and Baurain. When
Costam Investments advised the workers they would be hired for
construction jobs in Angola, they took the workers' passports to
process visas and work permits. Initially, the recruiter promised
the men that they would leave within a month, but the promises
dragged on until the men finally left in two groups in late March
and mid-April, 2009.
4. (SBU) The Angolan embassy in Harare processed tourist visas for
the men, at least two of which were signed by the same consular
officer. The men never completed visa application forms but
submitted photos to Costam Investments staff who completed the
paperwork on their behalf. The recruiter promised the men that they
would receive work permits and contracts on arrival in Luanda. The
recruiter advised the men to tell Angolan immigration officials they
were traveling on vacation to visit friends. Four visas were
processed in the name of the sending company, Costam Investments,
and three were processed in the name of the receiving company in
Angola, Gindungo Comercio Geral.
--------------
"We didn't even have a toilet"
--------------
5. (SBU) The three men we met arrived in Angola on April 17 and were
taken to the local company, Gindungo Comercio Geral, run by the
recruiter's uncle, also known as Mr. Li (hereafter referred to as
the receiver). When they reached the company, they met four
Zimbabweans who had arrived two weeks earlier. The receiver
informed all seven men that he had heard that Zimbabweans were
suffering and willing to work in any conditions. Five of the
Qsuffering and willing to work in any conditions. Five of the
Zimbabwean workers asked to leave immediately; two others agreed to
stay, hoping the receiver would fulfill his promises of improved
conditions. The receiver told the workers that he needed to hold
their passports to make travel arrangements to facilitate their
return.
6. (SBU) The men were forced to stay at the company's construction
site and not allowed to leave. They were not supposed to have cell
phones, but a couple of the men managed to conceal their phones.
They built their own shelter from scrap corrugated aluminum at the
site. Because the facility lacked a toilet, the men were forced to
sneak out the fence and find bushes nearby. The receiver brought
them food every few days, although it was often rotten and
inadequate. Three Chinese men also living at the site had a shelter
with electricity and a separate, clean water tank. The seven
Zimbabwean men (most in their 30s and 40s) also reported that there
were five Angolans who were also held in similar forced labor
conditions at the site. They believed these young men were between
the ages of 16 and 20 and had been trafficked from rural Angola.
HARARE 00000650 002 OF 003
The twelve forced laborers did not have enough blankets or mosquito
nets.
7. (SBU) Fortunately, the trafficking victims met a Zimbabwean
businessman, Mr. Mlambo, during their flight to Luanda. Using one
of their contraband cell phones, the men managed to secretly call
Mlambo to seek his help in contacting the Zimbabwean embassy for
assistance. On April 21, Siraha and four others went to the
Zimbabwean embassy and met with the financial counselor, Misheck
Makuyana, who proved helpful throughout their ordeal. Makuyana
provided the men with a letter from the Zimbabwean Ambassador asking
Gindungo to provide them with return flights to Zimbabwe.
8. (SBU) On April 23, the company purchased tickets to allow three
of the men to return to Harare, none of whom were paid for the work
they performed in Luanda. The receiver claimed the flight was full,
and the rest of the men could travel the following week. After
several subsequent weeks of delays and excuses, Siraha again
contacted Makuyana on June 10 to request additional help in leaving,
as the company claimed to not have funds to repatriate the workers.
Makuyana again contacted the company, and on June 12 the rest of the
men returned to Zimbabwe with air tickets purchased by Gindungo.
Makuyana also advised the men how to pursue their case against the
recruiting company, Costam Investments, on arrival in Harare through
the labor courts. This group of victims did not see other
Zimbabwean trafficking victims in Angola. However, one victim
overheard the receiver comment that soon they would have a "village"
of 150-200 Zimbabweans in Angola.
9. (SBU) One Zimbabwean, a builder, remains in Luanda. Siraha told
us the builder was desperate for cash to support his family and did
not want to return home empty-handed. He chose to stay in Luanda,
hoping things would improve. Siraha and the other victims are
unsure if the Zimbabwean embassy is aware that he has stayed in
Luanda. They also explained that the builder's tourist visa has now
expired. The victims believe Angola fines visitors who overstay
their visas $300 per day, and they believe this threat will further
entrap their colleague who stayed behind.
--------------
Victims Seek Recourse Through Zim Labor Court
--------------
10. (SBU) Because Zimbabwe does not have comprehensive
anti-trafficking legislation, the men have sought recourse through
the Ministry of Labor, where they are seeking compensation from
Costam Investments. The men are asking to be paid for lost wages
between November and June and additional damages. In an initial
hearing on June 22, the Labor Officer responsible for the case
appeared to side with the victims and asked them to submit
additional detailed documents to claim damages against Costam.
After June 22, however, representatives of Costam failed to attend
hearings on three occasions, and the Labor Officer became
increasingly unresponsive.
11. (SBU) When the victims realized the Labor Officer was not
documenting their case, they sought help from the local office of
Transparency International (TI),which helped them secure an
appointment with the Permanent Secretary, the top bureaucrat in the
Labor Ministry, on July 24. In that meeting, the Permanent
Secretary berated the Labor Officer for improperly handling the case
and not documenting events. Since that meeting, the case appears to
Qand not documenting events. Since that meeting, the case appears to
be moving in the right direction. The men now have a hearing
scheduled for August 7, and summons have been issued to all parties,
including Costam. Their initial visit to TI led to referrals to the
International Organization for Migration, Interpol, the U.S.
Embassy, and local pro bono legal and medical assistance.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
12. (SBU) This case highlights the vulnerability of Zimbabweans to
trafficking schemes and the difficulties victims face in seeking
justice against traffickers. In particular, Zimbabwe's large pool
of skilled, unemployed laborers makes for easy prey for those
seeking to exploit workers' desperation. These men are
extraordinarily fortunate that they met a Zimbabwean businessman
living in Angola who led them to the helpful diplomat at the
Zimbabwean embassy in Luanda. Without their quick-acting
compatriots, the men would probably still be forced laborers. In
all likelihood, other Zimbabweans have been trafficked by the same
group of Chinese to other sites in Angola or elsewhere.
13. (SBU) Given Zimbabwe's recent Tier 3 ranking in the Trafficking
HARARE 00000650 003 OF 003
in Persons report, we have been actively liaising with government
officials on the urgent need for anti-trafficking legislation and
better support systems to help victims. Government officials in
both major political parties agree there is a need for such
legislation, and we are using this ongoing case as an example of the
kinds of victims improved government action could help. END
COMMENT.
14. (U) U.S. Embassy Luanda has cleared this cable.
DHANANI