The
warning
comes
after
investigations
by
CITE
revealed
cases
in
which
Zimbabweans
were
recruited
to
travel
to
Russia
under
the
pretext
of
civilian
employment
opportunities,
only
to
reportedly
undergo
short-term
military
training
and
be
deployed
to
the
frontlines
in
the
ongoing
war
between
Russia–Ukraine
War.
CITE’s
investigation found
that
some
Zimbabweans
were
recruited
locally
while
others
were
approached
in
neighbouring
South
Africa,
with
recruiters
allegedly
offering
attractive
salaries
and
benefits.
However,
testimonies
from
families
and
individuals
already
in
Russia
suggest
the
reality
on
arrival
has
been
markedly
different.
In
response
to
questions
from
CITE,
Ministry
spokesperson
Philisiwe
Chidawanyika
issued
a
general
warning
about
fraudulent
recruitment
agencies
operating
online
and
outside
Zimbabwe’s
regulatory
jurisdiction.
“The
Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs
and
International
Trade
wishes
to
address
recurring
questions
and
concerns
surrounding
the
increased
cases
of
Zimbabwean
nationals
being
lured
to
work
under
extremely
unfavourable
conditions
in
foreign
countries
on
the
promise
of
lucrative
employment
contracts,”
Chidawanyika
said.
She
warned
many
of
the
agencies
involved
operate
largely
in
digital
spaces,
making
it
difficult
for
authorities
to
monitor
their
activities.
“The
Ministry
warns
Zimbabweans
of
the
prevalence
of
fraudulent
recruitment
agencies,
most
of
which
operate
in
digital
spaces
and
outside
the
regulatory
jurisdiction
of
the
country.
These
bogus
agencies
usually
dangle
attractive
remuneration
packages
but
are
silent
on
the
unfavourable
working
conditions
and
the
personal
sacrifices
to
be
made
by
the
recruits,”
she
said.
According
to
the
foreign
affairs
ministry,
in
some
cases
the
jobs
offered
during
recruitment
are
not
the
roles
recruits
ultimately
find
themselves
performing.
“In
some
cases,
the
jobs
offered
at
recruitment
are
not
what
the
recruits
find
themselves
deployed
into,”
Chidawanyika
said.
She
urged
Zimbabweans
who
receive
offers
to
work
or
study
abroad
to
first
verify
them
through
government
channels
before
committing.
“The
Ministry
reiterates
its
call
for
Zimbabwean
nationals
who
may
get
an
offer
to
work
or
study
in
a
foreign
country
to
contact
the
Ministry
or
the
nearest
Zimbabwean
Embassy
or
Consulate
for
assistance
in
verifying
such
offers,
to
avoid
falling
victim
to
scams,
which
in
some
cases
may
lead
to
injury
or
loss
of
life,”
she
said.
The
ministry
said
the
government
remained
committed
to
protecting
the
welfare
of
Zimbabweans
living
abroad,
including
investigating
cases
where
citizens
have
issued
distress
calls
after
allegedly
being
scammed.
“While
the
Government
of
Zimbabwe
is
fully
committed
to
promoting,
protecting
and
safeguarding
the
safety
and
welfare
of
its
citizens
living
abroad
and
continues
to
investigate
cases
where
Zimbabwean
nationals
have
issued
distress
calls
after
being
scammed,
citizens
are
strongly
encouraged
to
heed
the
call
for
due
diligence
before
committing
themselves,
to
avoid
situations
that
may
lead
to
crises,”
Chidawanyika
said.
However,
the
ministry’s
response
did
not
directly
confirm
whether
the
government
is
aware
of
Zimbabweans
recruited
specifically
to
fight
in
Russia’s
war
with
Ukraine.
CITE’s
investigation
documented
multiple
accounts
from
Zimbabwean
families
whose
relatives
are
currently
in
Russia
after
travelling
there
for
what
they
believed
were
civilian
jobs.
Some
relatives
said
they
later
learned
their
family
members
had
undergone
brief
military
training
lasting
between
seven
and
14
days
before
they
were
deployed
to
combat
zones.
Others
who
managed
to
communicate
from
Russia
described
harsh
conditions
and
said
the
situation
was
not
what
they
had
expected
when
they
accepted
the
offers.
While
some
recruits
reportedly
travelled
believing
they
would
work
in
construction
or
other
civilian
roles,
others
are
said
to
have
knowingly
signed
up
to
fight
in
exchange
for
financial
incentives.
The
investigation
suggests
the
recruitment
networks
operate
across
borders,
targeting
Zimbabweans
both
inside
the
country
and
within
the
diaspora
in
neighbouring
states.
CITE
sought
clarification
from
the
Ministry
on
several
issues,
including
whether
authorities
were
aware
of
Zimbabweans
recruited
into
military
service
in
Russia,
what
measures
were
being
taken
to
verify
the
circumstances
under
which
citizens
were
travelling
there
and
whether
any
bilateral
agreements
existed
between
Zimbabwe
and
Russia
permitting
such
recruitment.
Questions
were
also
raised
about
whether
the
government
planned
to
issue
public
advisories
warning
citizens
about
the
risks
of
human
trafficking,
labour
exploitation,
or
involvement
in
foreign
conflicts,
and
what
support
mechanisms
were
in
place
for
Zimbabweans
already
in
Russia
who
might
wish
to
return
home.
The
ministry’s
response
did
not
provide
specific
details
on
these
questions,
focusing
instead
on
the
broader
warning
about
fraudulent
recruitment
schemes.
Human
trafficking
experts have
previously
warned
that
deceptive
overseas
job
offers
can
sometimes
be
linked
to
exploitative
labour
practices
or
forced
participation
in
armed
conflicts.
For
‘many’
Zimbabweans
facing
economic
hardship,
promises
of
well-paid
work
abroad
can
be
difficult
to
resist,
particularly
when
recruiters
advertise
high
salaries
and
quick
travel
arrangements.
However,
experiences
shared
by
families
and
recruits
interviewed
during
the
CITE
investigation
suggest
that
for
some,
the
opportunities
have
come
at
a
far
greater
cost
than
expected.
Read
the
full
investigation
titled
“Zimbabweans
lured
to
Russia’s
war:
Inside
the
deceptive
recruitment
network
drawing
civilians
to
the
frontlines,”
here
which
details
the
recruitment
methods
used
and
the
testimonies
of
those
affected.