Kuwait human trafficking saga sucks in Shamu

Former Cabinet Minister Webster Shamu was yesterday named in Parliament as the proprietor of a downtown strip tease joint that was allegedly used as a recruitment point in the trafficking of 150 women to Kuwait and other countries in the Middle East.

Several legislators called for the closure of the joint, accusing it of promoting debauchery and demanded that Kuwait embassy officials be held responsible for aiding the trafficking of girls in that country who were eventually used as sex slaves.

Cde Shamu, who had been a Cabinet Minister for several years before being stripped owing to his alleged links with former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s putschist cabal, denied owning the club saying the allegations were made by people bent on tarnishing his name.

This came out during a motion moved by Goromonzi West MP Beata Nyamupinga (Zanu-PF), calling for expeditious investigations into circumstances surround the luring of the girls under the pretext that they would get lucrative jobs in Kuwait.

In her contribution, Nyamupinga condemned the exploitation of women in the night joints.

During the debate, Tafara/Mabvuku MP Mr James Maridadi (MDC-T), said the club was owned by a member of Parliament, adding that another legislator was subletting stalls at Mupedzanhamo Flea Market where he collected $200 per stand while remitting $15 to council.

He was directed to give names by stand-in Speaker of the National Assembly, William Mutomba following protests from Mbare MP Tendai Savanhu (Zanu-PF), to which he said he would furnish the house with names today.

During the debate some MPs could be heard shouting Shamu’s name each time legislators from both Zanu-PF and MDC-T made reference to the night club.

This prompted Kuwadzana East MP Mr Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T) to ask Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda who had returned to the chair to direct Shamu, who was already on the floor to respond to allegations that he owned the joint.

“It is something that he needs to clarify. I want to get guidance from the Chair if Hon Shamu should not respond to these allegations because they are serious,” said Mr Chamisa.

Shamu denied owning the joint saying the allegation was as spurious as the accusations that ZBC bought him a vehicle despite the fact that he got it from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

“I don’t own any kind of night club in my business activities. In fact, it has become a common feature for people to cast aspersions on MPs, especially those on my right (MDC-T),” said Shamu.

During debate, several MPs said Kuwait should be held responsible for allowing the exploitation of Zimbabwean girls, some of whom had since returned.

Meanwhile, Mudenda appealed to MPs to call off a demonstration against Kuwait through sitting on the floor.

Mudenda said while he agreed with their concerns, allowing them, mostly female MPs sitting on the floor would disrupt the smooth flow of business considering space constraints. The Herald