HARARE, Mar. 25 (NewsDay Live) – Fifteen Zimbabweans have died in foreign conflict zones after being lured abroad by human trafficking networks, prompting a government crackdown on the syndicates behind the scheme.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services minister Soda Zhemu said the victims were deceived into taking up what were presented as legitimate jobs, only to be pushed into active combat.
“To date, fifteen Zimbabwean nationals have lost their lives in foreign battlefields after being misled into these arrangements,” Zhemu said.
Authorities say the recruits were targeted through sophisticated and deceptive recruitment tactics, often exploiting worsening economic conditions at home. Some were allegedly channelled into operations linked to Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone.
Upon arrival, victims reportedly had their travel documents confiscated and were forced into frontline roles with little or no military training.
“Law enforcement has been instructed to identify, track and dismantle the criminal networks behind this trafficking,” Zhemu said, adding that the security cluster is now actively pursuing those responsible.
Government has intensified regulation and monitoring of private employment agencies, which are seen as a key entry point in the trafficking chain.
“In order to protect our nationals from exploitation, trafficking and unsafe working conditions, we have strengthened oversight of private employment agencies,” Zhemu said.
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Zimbabwe currently has 57 registered agencies, all of which are now required to be vetted and licensed for any foreign recruitment.
“The registrar will verify all job offers in liaison with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade through embassies and consulates,” he said.
Meanwhile, government is engaged in what Zhemu described as “complex diplomatic and logistical processes” to repatriate the remains of the deceased.
“We are working through established international channels to ensure that these citizens are brought back home and laid to rest with the dignity they deserve,” he said.
Authorities also plan to scale up public awareness campaigns on safe migration, targeting vulnerable communities through social media, outreach programmes and multilingual information drives.Zhemu warned that beyond the human cost, the trafficking crisis carries broader national consequences.
“This scourge has serious financial and political implications for the country. Sustained public engagement is critical to stem the tide and demonstrate government’s commitment to combating human trafficking,” he said.
