Zimbabweans lured into Russia’s war as families plead for their return

Elvis Sitshela remains deeply unsettled by the sudden departure of his brother, Dumisani, to Russia in early 2026. Dumisani left in complete secrecy, without telling the family, until a shocking text arrived from an international number.

“Hi, brother, I am in Russia now. It’s me, Dumisani,” recalled Elvis, who requested his real name be withheld for safety.
“He was unemployed for a long time and tried to settle in South Africa, but it didn’t work out; he returned home last December. By January, he was gone,” Elvis said.

Weeks later, the family received more troubling news: A neighbour who had travelled with Dumisani was killed in Ukraine, where Russia has been waging a full-scale war for the past four years.

“I am appealing to the Zimbabwean and Russian governments to work together to bring our brothers home,” he added, urging officials in Harare and Moscow to act before it is too late.

Trafficking charges
In late March, four people appeared before Harare Magistrates’ Court facing human trafficking charges.

The group is accused of sending Zimbabweans to Russia, where the victims were allegedly forced to participate in Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

The accused – Obert Hlavati, Tonderai Maphosa, Tanaka Malcon Gwarada, and Edson Dudzayi Nyamudeza – were not asked to plead during their appearance before Magistrate Jessi Kufa.

According to the prosecution, the four conspired with a Russian national named Ivan to traffic six Zimbabweans to Russia.

Separately, a few days ago, security officials at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo international airport intercepted two brothers attempting to board a flight to Russia. Although the pair claimed they were travelling to attend a university open event in Moscow, authorities grew suspicious and prevented them from leaving.
While these incidents remain isolated, the larger problem persists: Zimbabweans continue dying in Russia’s war.

State intervention
Elvis’s plea to the Zimbabwean and Russian governments to bring his brother home comes as Zimbabwean authorities confirm that a growing number of citizens have died while serving with Russian forces.

Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana said Harare is working to repatriate four citizens killed in Ukraine.

“Zimbabweans have been trafficked as foreign fighters. Eighteen have died abroad, yet the government can repatriate only four; the others are held up by documentation problems,” Mangwana said on X.

Minister of Information Zhemu Soda blamed predatory employment agencies that promise high salaries and secure work to lure desperate job seekers into conflict zones.
“Our citizens are being preyed upon by unscrupulous networks who operate with complete disregard for human life,” Soda told a news briefing in Harare on March 25. He warned that traffickers use social media to target young people.

Former Senator Tshepiso Helen Mpofu urged people to be cautious of job advertisements circulating online.

“Our young people must verify opportunities before applying, especially those abroad, and not fall for schemes that promise wealth or stability,” Mpofu said.

She called on the government to focus on economic empowerment and genuine job creation while engaging Russia to prevent citizens from being exploited in military service.

Forced enlistment
“Upon arrival in Russia, recruits are reportedly met by men in military uniform. They are placed on buses and taken to army barracks, where the process quickly turns dangerous,” explained veteran journalist Ezra Sibanda, whose investigation into recruitment networks gained traction in early March.

“At the barracks, they are processed, fingerprinted, and pressured into signing military contracts. Their passports and phones are confiscated, and they undergo brief training lasting 10 days to a month,” Sibanda said.

Through live Facebook broadcasts, Sibanda confronted Zimbabweans on the front lines and their alleged recruiters. His investigation revealed a sophisticated cross-border network that lures recruits with financial incentives, targeting those struggling economically.