The Zimbabwean government is working to repatriate four Zimbabweans who were fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, while documentation challenges have stalled efforts to bring back others, government spokesperson Nick Mangwana has said. Mangwana also confirmed that the number of Zimbabweans killed in the conflict has risen to 18. “Trafficked to be a foreign fighter.
The number of Zimbabweans killed in a foreign conflict is now 18. The State is seized with the repatriation of only four of those as there are issues around the documentation around the others,”Mangwana said on X. His statement follows growing official concern over what authorities have described as a human trafficking syndicate luring Zimbabweans to enlist in foreign militaries under false pretenses.
In a significant breakthrough, four men accused of running a recruitment ring were arrested in Harare. The four – Obert Hlavati, Tonderai Maphosa, Tanaka Malcolm Gwarada and Edson Dudzayi Nyamudeza appeared before Harare magistrate Jessi Kufa on human trafficking charges and were not asked to plead. Prosecutor Oscar Madhume alleged that from last month, the four conspired with a Russian national identified only as Ivan to traffic six Zimbabweans to Russia.
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Ivan referred victims to Gwarada, a local agent and InDrive taxi driver, who completed the recruitment process. Gwarada allegedly received US$8,167 at various intervals through Ecocash and a Bureau de Change at 5 Londonderry in Eastlea, Harare. He then placed the victims in hotels, lodges and safe houses in the Harare central business district while they awaited completion of the recruitment process.
Gwarada reportedly handed over the money to Maphosa, who arranged food and accommodation. Hlavati was tasked with making sure the men obtained travel documents and medical reports. Nyamudeza, an airport official, allegedly helped the victims pass through Robert Mugabe International Airport without difficulty.
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