Govt issues fresh warning over fake jobs sending Zimbabweans to battlefronts

The government has renewed its warning to Zimbabweans about fake job offers and human trafficking.

The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Zhemu Soda, said on Thursday, 8 October, that criminal networks promising well-paid work abroad are becoming more sophisticated, and that some recruits have been sent to front lines without any military training.

He said the government had raised the alarm before, but the networks’ growing sophistication called for fresh vigilance.

“Unscrupulous criminal networks are increasingly exploiting citizens by promising lucrative salaries and employment opportunities in neighbouring countries, parts of the Middle East and Asia,” Soda said.

“Tragically, some recruits have been deployed to active battlefronts in host nations without any prior military training.”

Soda said Zimbabwean law strictly prohibits recruiting citizens as mercenaries, and that the government strongly condemned the networks involved.

He urged citizens, families and community leaders to stay alert and to check every job offer from abroad carefully. Parents and guardians should keep track of where their children are travelling.

Anyone who has already fallen victim and is in serious trouble should contact relatives at home or the Zimbabwean embassy or consulate in the country where they are, he said.

To help people spot fake recruiters, the government listed several warning signs. These include demands for large upfront fees or a refusal to give refunds, which legitimate agencies do not do.

Other signs are vague job descriptions, employer contacts that cannot be checked, pressure to leave the country immediately, contracts written in a foreign language, and offers that promise instant wealth or say no experience is needed.

Soda also urged citizens to be wary of recruiters with no licence or verifiable office address, and of unsolicited job offers made by phone call or text message from international numbers.

“Never sign any contract written in a foreign language. Every document must be fully translated into an official language you understand, such as English, Shona or Ndebele,” Soda said.

He added that any offer promising instant wealth should be treated with extreme suspicion.

The government also set out five safety steps for anyone considering a job abroad. First, check that the agency is legally registered and licensed on the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare portal at http://mpslsw.gov.zw.

Second, follow the “3 Rs”: research the agency’s history and registration, request a legally binding written contract, and report any suspicious behaviour to the police.

Third, before paying anything or travelling, contact the nearest Zimbabwean embassy or consulate in the destination country to confirm that the employer is genuine.

Fourth, look for jobs, at home or abroad, only through verified government platforms, including the main government portal at http://zim.gov.zw.

Finally, travel with paper and digital copies of your passport and visa, keep emergency contacts to hand, and carry at least US$200 hidden away for emergencies.

Soda described human trafficking as a serious violation of human rights and a threat to national security.

“The Government remains fully committed to dismantling these criminal operations and protecting our citizens,” he said.

He urged anyone who comes across suspicious recruitment to report it immediately at the nearest police station, call the National Child and Vulnerable Hotline on 116, or ring the ministry’s toll-free helpline on 1980.