Ziyanda to tell human trafficking story
Jane Zibusiso Nkiwane
A local film production company is set to create an exciting and informative feature film which will tell the human trafficking story through the lens of african women.
Human trafficking which is intertwined with modern day slavery is a global crime based on the exploitation of human beings through sex, prostitution, forced labour, drug peddling and the illegal harvesting of human parts. The feature film titled Ziyanda that will have its scenes shot both locally and in South Africa will expose the dark underworld of human trafficking.
Addressing a press briefing, Managing Director of Ramatsatsi Productions, Dumisani Nkomo stated that there are more than 24 million victims of human trafficking worldwide and that according to the United Nations Office on Drugs (UNODC), the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified human trafficking due to the high employment rates currently being experienced. He cited recent reports of Zimbabwean women stranded in Kuwait and in the Middle East after falling prey to human traffickers who lured them to false lucrative job offers as an example.
The media film company based in Zimbabwe also roped in a Zimbabwean born multi award winning film director Bonginhlanhla Ncube known in the creative circles as Mr B, to direct the film.
Ncube reiterated that the story will be told from an African perspective by Africans while pointing out what inspired him to be part of the film crew.
“I chose to work on this project because I thought of the millions of people across the world that are affected by human trafficking. Some victims are not even aware that they are victims of human trafficking. They think it’s only a job offer that went wrong. Someone might think they were recruited for a job as an air hostess but turned to prostitution when they failed to get hired by the intended company. So for me its important to share the light from the story,” he said.
The film producers promised to deliver a high quality film which meet international standards that will also reposition Zimbabwe as a film destination of choice. The unique locations possessed by the country is set to market it as a tourist destination.
“There is unlimited economic and social potential in the film industry and Ziyanda will contribute greatly to this upward, sustainable growth trajectory through film tourism,” said Nkomo.
“We will knock on every door to make this film big,” Ncube added.
The film production is expected to commence in November this year. Ziyanda is expected to do the rounds in international film festivals and to leave a permanent mark in the film landscape.
