The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of Karonga Diocese has expressed concern over an increase in child trafficking cases in the boarder districts of Karonga and Chitipa.

According to Karonga CCJP Desk Officer Lewis Nkhata, an increasing number of children are being trafficked to Tanzania and Zambia to work in farms.

“The two districts have this far registered at least 100 child trafficking cases,” said Nkhata.

He decried the poor legal framework which is not enforced in Malawi.

Nkhata appealed to the government to provide the social welfare departments with resources and do more of awareness raising across Malawi.

“Government should  empower institutions that are at Grassroots level e.g child protection and district welfare offices so that they should have the capacity  to handle such issues,” Nkhata added.

As reported over the past five years, Malawi is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking.