Government has raised alarm over a surge in human trafficking cases after 15 Zimbabweans lost their lives abroad, having been lured into foreign conflicts through fraudulent recruitment schemes.
According to authorities, the victims were misled with false promises of well-paying jobs in other countries, only to find themselves forced into armed conflict and exploitative conditions.
Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Zhemu Soda, confirmed the developments, warning that the trend poses a growing national threat.
“We are witnessing a troubling and dangerous trend. Zimbabwean citizens are being recruited into foreign armies and pushed into armed conflicts beyond our borders. This is not legitimate military service, it is a sophisticated scheme of deception, exploitation and human trafficking that has already cost Zimbabwean lives. It is with profound sorrow that I confirm that 15 nationals have died after being deceived into enlisting in foreign wars,” he said.
Dr Soda added that President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa has directed the Government to respond urgently.
“The President has instructed government to act with urgency and resolve. We are working on several fronts. First, regarding the deceased, the government is undertaking the complex diplomatic and logistical processes required to repatriate the remains of the 15 Zimbabweans. To the recruiters, agents and traffickers, we say: the long arm of the state is coming for you. Your networks will be dismantled, your operations exposed, and you will be prosecuted. This government will not allow its citizens to be treated as commodities for profit,” he said.
The crisis mirrors other recent cases involving Zimbabweans abroad. Last month, at least 15 citizens were reported to be trapped in Cambodia, working under harsh and exploitative conditions.
Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mercy Dinha, clarified that the affected individuals were actually stranded in Myanmar, but the government had intervened.
“We have managed to bring back some of them, and efforts are underway to facilitate the safe return of the rest,” she said.
Human trafficking remains a challenge for many African countries, with nations such as Uganda and Kenya reporting similar patterns of their nationals being targeted.
Government further revealed that efforts are ongoing to rescue 61 other Zimbabweans who remain trapped in countries currently experiencing conflict.
