A Hwange man has appeared in court on human trafficking charges after allegedly recruiting five Zimbabweans to fight as mercenaries in the Russia–Ukraine war; one of whom has since been killed in combat.
Oscar Mtshiya appeared before the Harare magistrates court facing charges of trafficking for labour exploitation.
According to the state, Mtshiya allegedly worked in connivance with two Russian nationals identified as Denis and Victor, who remain at large, and two other accomplices to traffic five victims to Russia between January and June 2026 under the false pretence of firefighting job opportunities in Moscow.
The court heard that Mtshiya and his accomplices deceived the victims by promising them lucrative salaries, favourable working conditions and, in some cases, the opportunity to work for Russia's Ministry of Defence.
It is alleged that the syndicate distributed air tickets and visas, processed by the accomplices, to the victims.
Mtshiya reportedly received funds from his partners via an EcoCash agent, Senia Muusha, which were then forwarded to the victims for transport logistics to Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo, where they boarded flights to Russia.
Upon arrival in Russia, the victims were met by Mtshiya’s accomplices, who confiscated their travel documents.
They were then forced to join a private military organisation as mercenaries—a role that was not part of the Russian government employment they had been promised, the state alleges.
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The victims were subjected to labour exploitation, denied freedom of movement, and forced to undergo seven days of firearm familiarisation training before being deployed to the Ukraine war zone.
The case came to light after the spouse of one victim, who lost his life during deployment, reported the matter to the police.
She is currently engaging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the repatriation of his remains.
Other victims managed to alert their relatives in Zimbabwe, who then notified the police.
The surviving victims remain in Russia, and the Department of Social Welfare, with assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is making efforts to repatriate them.
