Transnational organised crime: Effectiveness of state’s response to human trafficking: The case of Zimbabwe (2004-2016).

Abstract

The central objective of the study sort to analyse the effectiveness of the Government of Zimbabwe’s (GOZ) response in combating transnational organized crime in regard to TiPs through legislative, policy, institutional framework and law enforcement agencies. This dissertation looks at the phenomenon, nature and trends of transnational TiPs in Zimbabwe. Imperatively, steps taken towards domesticating the Palermo Protocol on TiPs (2000) and implementing its fundamental 4Ps (protection, prevention and prosecution) to combat transnational TiPs were used as a yardstick for the analysis. However, a screenshot analysis on non-state actors’ actions to complement GoZ’s anti-TiPs mechanisms was also done. The study was hypothesised around the notion that, lack of formidable anti-TiPs mechanisms aggravates the state, nature and trends of transnational human trafficking in Zimbabwe. The study relied both on primary and secondary qualitative methodology, with the use of the case study approach, in-depth interviews with key informants, documentary search including books, articles and e-journals to have a better appreciation of the phenomenon. Non probability sampling technique such as purposive or judgemental and snowball sampling were utilised in order to select and reach 15 relevant respondents for the study. Through thematic analysis of documents and in-depth interviews with respondents the researcher found out that the ratification of the Palermo Protocol in 2014 brought a well-defined approach against TiP in Zimbabwe. The TiPs Act 9:25 4/14 has been enacted to implement the 4Ps of the UN TiPs Protocol through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Trafficking. However, the government has faced challenges including but not limited to the intricacy of ICT, crime identification problem, lack of data on the nature and trend of TiPs, porous borders and corruption of key officials. Although a good deal of new information and cases of human trafficking were discovered, conducting the research proved to be challenging as there was little first-hand information available. The study also proffered formidable antihuman trafficking recommendations that will enhance the GoZ’s response to avert transnational human trafficking.