Maravi

Slave trade was degrading - VJ

Slave trade was degrading - VJ
By George Chellah and Masuzyo Chakwe
Wednesday March 28, 2007 [02:00]

CHIEF government spokesperson Vernon Mwaanga has said it was heartening to see descendants of people responsible for the slave trade apologising for the evil act. And Mwaanga said cases of human trafficking were quite frequent in Zambia. Meanwhile, British home office minister Vernon Coaker said human trafficking was an appalling crime, which caused terrible trauma to its victims.

Commenting on the 200th Anniversary of Britain's abolition of the slave trade, Mwaanga said slave trade was a very degrading and dehumanising trade. "I was heartened to see that some of the descendants of people responsible for slave trade have been apologising for that evil act," Mwaanga said. "It's now 200 years since the abolition of this evil act and William Wilberforce is the person who has been credited for fighting for the abolition of slave trade."

He said there was need for more apologies from other people whose countries participated in the slave trade. "I am glad that some apologies have been made by the countries which were involved in the evil act. In fact, we would like to see more apologies from other government leaders," Mwaanga said. "We would like to see them apologising on behalf of their countries that participated greatly in this evil act."

Mwaanga also bemoaned the high levels of human trafficking worldwide. "We have human trafficking now. This is part of slave trade, which existed 200 years ago. There is a report that about 211 million are working literally as slaves all over the world," he said. He said cases of human trafficking were quite frequent in Zambia.

Labels: VERNON MWAANGA

posted by MrK @ 4:40 AM