As The Salvation Army in Zimbabwe, let us therefore pray not only for victims and survivors, but also for ourselves. Let us pray for the Lord, to open our eyes to see exploitation, our ears to hear the cries that may be hidden behind silence, our hearts to respond with compassion, our hands to serve and our mouths to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, Major Norman Zakeyo, Modern Slavery and Anti-Human Trafficking Contact Person, has implored men during an international gathering of Salvation Army men from Zambia and Zimbabwe during a recent gathering in Chinhoyi.
” As The Salvation Army in Zimbabwe joins millions around the world for the International Day of Prayer for Victims of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, we gather under a powerful theme: OPEN OUR EYES. It means asking God to help us see what we have sometimes failed to see.
Because behind the statistics are real people, children, young people, women and men with names, families, dreams and hopes.
“The Salvation Army reminds us that human trafficking is not simply a social problem somewhere far away. It can affect our own communities. The Salvation Army’s global response therefore calls us to Prayer, Prevention, Protection, Partnership, Participation, Prosecution, Proof and Policy.
Today, we are especially called to pray.
Our International Leader, General Lyndon Buckingham, calls us to stand with those affected by modern slavery and human trafficking. The 2026 IDOP message reminds us that prayer is not passive. Through prayer, we stand alongside victims and survivors and give voice to those whose voices have been taken away.” Said Major Zakeyo.
The theme opens our eyes emanates from Provers 31:8, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.” Men were encouraged to personalize the theme and open their eyes to see form and sign of exploitation.
” The theme becomes personal when we open our eyes to see the child who suddenly stops going to school; the young person who receives a suspicious job offer promising quick money; the person travelling under circumstances they do not understand; children who are working when they should be learning; those whose vulnerability is being exploited and most importantly, open our eyes to what we can do,” he said.
He further explored The Salvation Army’s Compass summarized as People, Mission and Legacy.
“People are at the heart of our mission. Therefore, when we talk about human trafficking, we are not talking about numbers. We are talking about people whose dignity matters to God. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in his name without discrimination.
Our faith must move beyond words. We pray, we educate, we prevent, we protect, we listen, we refer, and we walk alongside survivors. Legacy encourages us to pass on a healthy and flourishing Salvation Army to future generations,” he said.
The big question is What kind of legacy will we leave? Will our children inherit communities where exploitation is ignored? Or will they inherit communities where people recognise the warning signs, protect children, challenge exploitation and speak when others cannot?
Proverbs 31:8 gives us a clear instruction: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
There are people whose voices have been silenced by fear, threats, manipulation, poverty and exploitation.
“May our prayer today become participation tomorrow, our awareness become prevention, our compassion become protection and may our faith become action,” he concluded.
The event concluded with a great march in Chinhoyi City, with banners against human trafficking displayed.
