By Kelvin Wilson Kasiwulaya
In a harrowing tale of robbery and forced labour, a 40-year-old man from Makusha high density suburb in Shurugwi was brutally assaulted and compelled to extract gold ore for three hours after being ambushed and robbed by a group of armed men on July 12, 2024.
Rashirai Mafuku was walking on a footpath when he was attacked by four assailants, who stole $150 from him and then forced him to march to a nearby mine.
There, the attackers—identified as Tafadzwa Chimbindi (28) and Peace Chingozho (31) from Dark City, Shurugwi—held Mafuku captive and forced him to extract gold ore before releasing him.
Midlands Police Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirms the incident and the arrest of Chimbindi and Chingozho.
However two other suspects are still at large, and the police are working on the clock to net them in.
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of modern slavery, where victims are subjected to forced labour and exploitation, often in addition to being robbed.
The Zimbabwean authorities’ swift action in arresting two suspects is a positive step, but more must be done to identify and apprehend the remaining perpetrators and to address the root causes of this pervasive human rights violation.
On May 22, 2019, Zimbabwe deposited its instrument of ratification of the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, thereby becoming the thirty-second country worldwide to ratify the Protocol.
By ratifying the instrument, Zimbabwe demonstrated its firm commitment to combating forced labour in all its forms.
Forced labor is a severe violation of human rights affecting millions globally. It is rooted in poverty, discrimination, and lack of social protection.
It is the most common form of modern slavery. It is not the same as poor working conditions or low pay; Article 2(1) of the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) defines forced or compulsory labour as “all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily”.
Forced labor affects at least 27.6 million people worldwide, with at least 17.3 million people experiencing forced labour exploitation in the private sector, nearly 4 million people in state-imposed forced labour, and over 6 million people in commercial sexual exploitation.