FIU-to-FIU cooperation urged as Mnangagwa, Putin talks face trafficking scrutiny

HARARE - Calls are growing for Zimbabwe and Russia to strengthen cooperation against human trafficking and deceptive recruitment schemes as President Emmerson Mnangagwa prepares for bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trafficking experts and opposition figures say the meeting should produce concrete measures aimed at tracing financial flows linked to alleged recruitment networks that have reportedly targeted Zimbabweans with promises of employment opportunities abroad.

The issue has gained prominence following reports that Zimbabwean citizens were allegedly recruited through fraudulent overseas employment schemes and later found themselves in military-related activities in Russia.

According to figures cited in public discussions surrounding the matter, Zimbabwean authorities have confirmed deaths and cases involving Zimbabweans affected by questionable foreign recruitment arrangements, prompting investigations and efforts to establish the identities of some victims.

Trafficking in Persons expert Zororai Nkomo said authorities should focus on tracking financial transactions connected to recruitment networks while ensuring that potential victims receive protection and support.

"The UN press statement suggests that the Zimbabwean nationals were recruited with the promise of employment but subsequently found themselves in the military, contrary to what they had been led to believe. From a Trafficking in Persons perspective, this raises serious concerns about possible trafficking for the purpose of forced military service," Nkomo said.

He argued that authorities should avoid automatically treating returnees as offenders without first determining whether they were deceived, coerced or exploited.

"Returnees must not automatically be labelled mercenaries or prosecuted simply because they were found in military service. Each case must be assessed individually," he said.

Nkomo proposed stronger cooperation between financial intelligence authorities, law enforcement agencies and international partners to identify recruitment networks and suspicious financial transactions.

Among his recommendations are enhanced financial intelligence sharing, tighter oversight of recruitment agencies, stronger verification of overseas employment opportunities and support programmes for affected individuals.

Opposition leader Senator Jameson Timba said the bilateral talks should result in greater transparency regarding the circumstances under which Zimbabweans ended up in foreign conflicts.

"First, a full and verifiable account of every Zimbabwean recruited into Russia's military operations, including those killed, injured, missing or still deployed. Second, a credible joint criminal investigation into the recruitment networks, their financiers and facilitators," Timba said.

He also called for measures aimed at facilitating the safe return of Zimbabweans who may wish to leave conflict zones and support for affected families.

However, Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana declined to discuss the agenda for the meeting in advance.

"Zimbabwe and all its sisterly nations discuss all matters of mutual interest through established diplomatic channels and we have never, nor will we ever, engage in megaphone diplomacy or grandstanding," Mangwana said.

"His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Russian President Vladimir Putin are due to meet on the 30th. It would therefore be disrespectful and diplomatically improper to pre-empt or speculate on the content of bilateral engagements between two Heads of State before they have even met."

The issue comes at a time when governments across the region are increasingly concerned about human trafficking, labour exploitation and deceptive international recruitment practices.

Zimbabwe recently issued a warning to citizens against fraudulent overseas job offers and urged job seekers to verify recruitment agencies before accepting employment opportunities abroad.

Analysts say any future cooperation between Zimbabwe and Russia is likely to focus on combating trafficking networks, protecting citizens from exploitation and improving information sharing between authorities.