Harare human trafficking case: two women remanded over alleged child exploitation from Mount Selinda, Chipinge

STAR FM

By Staff Reporter — Harare, Zimbabwe

A Harare human trafficking case unfolded over the weekend when two women were remanded at Harare Regional Magistrates Court after prosecutors alleged they lured children from Mount Selinda, Chipinge, to Harare under the pretext of school enrolment and then forced them to work as unpaid street vendors on Samora Machel Avenue.

“We have reasonable grounds to believe the accused recruited and transported minors for exploitative labour,” a prosecutor told the court in Harare. A police spokesperson confirmed the investigation is ongoing, adding: “Our priority is the welfare of the children; we are working with child‑welfare agencies to secure their safety.” A representative from a child‑protection agency in Harare said the children are receiving medical and psychosocial support.

Allegations of recruitment from Mount Selinda Chipinge and forced vending on Samora Machel Avenue

Prosecutors allege Chantel Hlatwayo (21) and her aunt Sibongile Hlatwayo (64) recruited minors — all under 15 — from Mount Selinda in Chipinge by promising school placements in Harare. Upon arrival, the children were reportedly compelled to sell goods along Samora Machel Avenue, with proceeds allegedly appropriated by the accused. Court documents say family ties and community trust were exploited to facilitate the scheme.

How the case came to light and the immediate child‑welfare response in Harare

The matter surfaced publicly after Chantel Hlatwayo appeared on the Star FM programme Tilda Live on 27 January 2026, prompting complaints and a police probe. Child‑welfare officials in Harare have intervened: children identified in the case are being assessed and placed under protective care while social services coordinate reunification efforts with guardians in Chipinge, where appropriate.

Legal framework and next steps for the Harare human trafficking prosecution

The charges fall under Zimbabwe’s anti‑trafficking and child protection laws, which criminalise the recruitment, transportation, and exploitation of minors for labour. If convicted, the accused face significant penalties. The two women were remanded in custody pending a bail application expected later this week; prosecutors said they will present further evidence as investigations continue in both Harare and Chipinge