In Malawi children recruited for forced labor in the District of Tsangano

Tsangano district, located in the northern province of Tete, regarded as the largest producer of potato reno, beans and wheat, making the border with Malawi, notes entry massive children aged between 7 and 15 years. At least 70 children enter daily for fish production in machambas of potato, wheat and beans, from 6 am to 5 pm.Minors are ordered from Malawi by peasants Mozambicans that have large machambas. Recruitment happens without the permission of the authorities of both countries. It is specifically minors from Nguni and Neno, in neighbouring Malawi, entering our country illegally and escorted, as if slave if treat.For receipt of minors are sent two or three young to wait by petizes frontiers of Biribiri and Turn off to later being taken at machambas where you spend the day working without rest.Children are transported through a lorry until the border where they are delivered to Mozambicans.Second found our reportage on the ground, the petizes crossing the border of Malawi to Mozambique towards the District of Tsangano, at around 4 hours of dawn.These petizes come in Mozambique, using the route of Mwenjate, alternatively. Arriving to Mozambique, children work about 12 hours, without interruption.At the end of the day, they are paid malawiana currency monetary values, ranging from 100 to 150 kwachas. This equates to approximately 20 Mt.Often, much of the money the whole day is spent on buying cookies and banana, among others food products immediately.After poor meal, by the way the single of the day, according to our findings on the spot, they are taken to a place closed near a small market, in that location.There are instructed to wait for the car that has led back to Biribiri frontier, where they are expected by other Lords, by Malawian signal to evacuate them to their areas of residence.Most of these children are orphaned and not attends school. Characteristics of people living in extreme poverty, beyond the visible state of malnutrition.We tried to talk with minors. It was hard but we ended up getting. On-site was a young man who seems to have more than 25 years of age. This prevented the children speak to our story. Even so, we ended up getting. "Call me, I have Bwerere Jakson nine years old. Live in the area of Neno in Malawi. I am an orphan from father and mother, as well as many children here. I'm here in Mozambique to work on machambas potato, beans and sometimes from wheat. Led side Malawi with a few Honourable through a lorry until Biribiri zone, where we are unloaded. We were violating the borders to the area of Mwenjate already in Mozambique. In this place, we found two titios that lead a lorry and sometimes has been on foot until near the residential area of the seat of the District of Tsangano. There, we left and walked to the machambas."In machambas, we work without eating, without rest, from 6 p.m. until 5 p.m. Arrival this time, they give us money ranging from 100 to 150 kwachas. Older people receive more money, "said the smallest.Our conversation was interrupted when the young man, ' ', team leader is aware of the absence of small Bwerere."What are you doing there? Not hamlets are already starting hours? "said the young already furious, who were unable to determine the identity, but we know that it is Mozambican and resides in the Tsangano district headquarters."Confirm the daily entry of minors here in the district, but this is not trafficked children. Must be smaller than living in conditions of vulnerability in that country. Resort to our district for, through work in machambas, achieve sustenance, "Ana Berssone, administrator of the District of Tsangano."I often see the massive movement of minors, especially in the mornings and at the end of the day really are innocent children live in poverty. We as district, we strive to end illegal child labor input and within our district. I must say that these actions are not necessarily by disclosure of the law on the rights of the child and also we enter into talks with the authorities Malawians to jointly seek possible solutions of the problem, "he continued.On the other hand, Ana Berssone acknowledged that it will be difficult to interact with the Malawian Government, because, according to her, "relations between the two countries are bitter".Data in our possession indicate that children working in machambas of Lords Honorius and Dona Lucia, taken as large producers in that district.Have acquired, through production, many goods such as tractors, vehicles and even made houses improved. (George Mirione)