160 Tanzanian trafficking victims rescued
MOROGORO: THE government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Secretariat, has rescued 160 Tanzanians who were being trafficked to various destinations inside and outside the country between July 2025 and February 2026.
The victims were being transported for illegal and exploitative work, including forced labour, inhumane conditions and sexual exploitation.
Speaking yesterday in Morogoro during training for law enforcement officers, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Secretariat Investigation Officer Daniel Zawadi said the rescued victims included 96 women, four men and 60 children.
He said 34 of the victims were rescued outside Tanzania after being trafficked across borders for exploitation.
“The people trained here work closely with communities and are responsible for enforcing laws. They play a key role in preventing trafficking, protecting victims, prosecuting offenders and working with communities to end the crime,” Mr Zawadi said.
The training brought together magistrates, lawyers, police officers, immigration officials, social welfare officers and civil society representatives to strengthen their understanding of national and international policies and regulations on combating human trafficking.
Mr Zawadi said authorities also arrested 57 suspects linked to human trafficking during the same period, with investigations and legal proceedings ongoing.
He said the government has established a centre for receiving trafficking-related reports and continues to educate communities to recognise human trafficking as a serious crime.
He added that safe houses have been established to protect victims while their cases are being processed in courts.
ALSO READ: Karume and Shein spearhead the signed CCM-ACT Wazalendo’s political reconciliation
Tanzania Relief Initiatives (TANAHUT) Board Member and researcher Jones John said young people aged between 12 and 18 years are among the groups most affected by human trafficking.
He noted that children aged 12 to 15 years account for 52 per cent of reported trafficking cases in the country, highlighting the need for greater protection and awareness among adolescents.
Mr Hanns Seidel Foundation Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist Raphael Ami said the organisation, through various projects implemented with TANAHUT, continues to support efforts to prevent human trafficking.
He said public awareness remains low, with some communities failing to recognise trafficking-related activities as criminal offences, calling for increased education campaigns.
During the training, participants urged the government and stakeholders to strengthen community awareness programmes so that people can identify trafficking risks, report cases promptly and help ensure perpetrators face justice.
