Malawi NGOs suspect prostitution will thrive at South Africa 2010

As the countdown to the 2010 FIFA world cup finals, holding in South Africa, begins, Malawi has stepped up efforts to curb human trafficking which could lead to prostitution.

Anti-human trafficking activists have the Malawi Network Against Child Trafficking (M-Nact), whose aims are to investigate, report and raise awareness on human trafficking ahead of the soccer fiesta.

The activists are afraid that Malawi's enormous social and economic problems could spark an exodus of Malawians towards South Africa which will host the biggest soccer event in the world in June 2010.

According to data released on Wednesday by M-nact, over 1,500 men, women and children in Malawi are trafficked for sexual and labour exploitations as well as organ removal every year.

Maxwell Matewere, a member of the network, warned that the football bonanza was poised to boost the leisure and tourism industries that may in turn spur human trafficking.

"There is already talk in South Africa to legalize prostitution," he said, adding: "This means poor Malawians will be enticed into such seemingly lucrative business."

Matewere, who is also the Executive Director of Eye of the Child - a child rights NGO, said it was necessary that the media acted with urgency to sensitize the masses of the negative implications of the World Cup frenzy on Malawians.

Naile Salima, a gender advisor with the British charity Oxfam Malawi, said reports reaching M-Nact indicated that traffickers were already recruiting people in central highland district of Dedza and the lakeshore resort district of Mangochi.

"The media have a role to educate the public on how to prevent human trafficking," she said.

The coordinator of the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) for the Prevention of trafficking in women and children, Habiba Osman, urged NGOs to be proactive in preventing recruitnment, transportation and exploitation of potential victims.

"Malawi has enacted a Trafficking Bill which, unlike before, lays emphasis on prison terms for offenders in preference to fines which are easily paid by convicted persons," she said.

"There is urgent need to educate the people, teach them life-saving skills and empower vulnerable children, youths and families economically," she added.

M-nact plans to set up social services to reintegrate victims when they return to the country.