Zim arrests Russia recruiters, struggles to repatriate deceased

For months, one Zimbabwean family has endured a painful wait after their relative, recruited to fight for Russia against Ukraine, lay dead in a Moscow morgue. However, every attempt to bring him home was met with bureaucratic runarounds in Harare, office to office, with no official willing to say when repatriation might happen. The family submitted documents, wrote letters and spoke to officials in both Zimbabwe and Russia, yet they still do not know when, or even whether, their loved one will be brought home.

Their experience has come to symbolise Zimbabwe’s response to the trafficking of its citizens into Russia’s war against Ukraine: swift in arresting suspected recruiters, but slow and disjointed when it comes to rescuing survivors and supporting bereaved families. The contrast is striking because Zimbabwe has demonstrated it can investigate and arrest people accused of recruiting Zimbabweans into Russia’s war. On this topic• Zimbabwe prepares for possible super El Niño• Questions arise over Zimbabwe’s migration figures as ministers predict mass homecoming from South Africa• Zimbabweans among hundreds of African fighters confirmed killed in Russia-Ukraine war • Zimbabwe prepares for possible super El Niño• Questions arise over Zimbabwe’s migration figures as ministers predict mass homecoming from South Africa• Zimbabweans among hundreds of African fighters confirmed killed in Russia-Ukraine war • Questions arise over Zimbabwe’s migration figures as ministers predict mass homecoming from South Africa • Zimbabweans among hundreds of African fighters confirmed killed in Russia-Ukraine war However, Zimbabwe is yet to demonstrate that it has a coordinated system for repatriating survivors or helping families bring home their dead relatives. Nearly four months after the government pledged to assist Zimbabweans caught up in the conflict, families continue to describe a confusing and fragmented process characterised by bureaucratic delays, poor communication and uncertainty over which government institution is responsible for coordinating repatriation.