Serial human trafficker sentenced to 90 years in prison for deceiving job seekers
Caroline Ziyanga, a notorious human trafficker, has been handed a 90-year prison sentence after being found guilty on nine counts of trafficking. In a trial presided over by Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje, Ziyanga received a ten-year sentence for each count.
Originally facing eleven counts, two were withdrawn prior to the plea. Magistrate Mambanje ruled that counts three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, and eleven would run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of 30 years.
The prosecution, led by Oscar Madhume, successfully demonstrated that Ziyanga and an accomplice named Hamidah orchestrated a scheme to traffic women to Oman under false pretenses. Ziyanga advertised lucrative job opportunities in Dubai, promising a monthly salary of US$800, which she disseminated through friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors.
Victims, desperate for employment, were referred to Ziyanga, believing she could assist them. However, upon acceptance of the offer, Ziyanga and Hamidah arranged visas and air tickets for Oman instead of Dubai.
Upon arrival in Oman, the victims quickly realized they had been deceived when their passports were confiscated. Instead of the promised jobs as nurse aides, they were forced into domestic servitude as housemaids and subjected to inhumane treatment.
Ziyanga’s conviction and lengthy sentence serve as a stern warning to other human traffickers, highlighting the serious consequences of exploiting vulnerable individuals seeking employment opportunities. The case also underscores the need for increased awareness, vigilance, and concerted efforts to combat human trafficking.
