By Tinashe Farawo
Thirty-two Zimbabwean women who were lured for employment in Kuwait but ended up being abused in the Middle East country arrived back in the country yesterday with one of the women reported to be pregnant.
The women were welcomed at the Harare International Airport by Foreign Affairs Minister, Simbabrashe Mumbengegwi, Health Minister, Dr David Parirenyatwa, Public Service Minister, Prisca Mupfumira and her Minister of Women Affairs counterpart, Nyasha Chikwinya.
Speaking at the press conference Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda who accompanied the women from Kuwait said the experience the women went through was touching.
He said the situation for the women was desperate in Kuwait and he was happy with the assistance they got from the Kuwait Government to bring them back home.
“The situation was desperate. This was perpetrated by a syndicate of criminals both in Zimbabwe and Kuwait,” he said.
Advocate Mudenda said twenty-eighty of the women were housed at a shelter while two were in police custody and two others took refuge at the Zimbabwean embassy in Kuwait.
Speaking at the same function, Minister Mupfumira said Government was making efforts to reunite the women with their families.
“We will do our best to support the women because some of them have been traumatized. We have made all the necessary arrangements that they have a safe home,” she said.
Minister Parirenyatwa said a team of psychologists and doctors has been assembled to attend to the women.
Advocate Mudenda said it was not true that his delegation which comprised legislators Kindness Paradza and Priscilla Misihairambwi Mushonga were not in Kuwait to fetch the women but for parliamentary business. The women were located with the assistance from Zimbabwean ambassador to Kuwait, Mark Marongwe.
Reports indicate that there are about 200 Zimbabwean women who are being held captive in the Middle East country. The Sunday Mail
