By Sukoluhle Ndlovu
The government has warned Zimbabweans against falling for ‘lucrative’ overseas job offers, saying some unsuspecting recruits are ending up on active battlefields after being lured by criminal networks.
Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Soda Zhemu issued the warning, saying the networks were targeting job seekers with promises of well-paying jobs in neighbouring countries, the Middle East and Asia.
“However, the escalating sophistication of these criminal networks necessitates renewed vigilance,” Zhemu said during a press briefing.
He said some Zimbabweans who accepted the offers had found themselves in dangerous situations, with recruiters sending them to conflict zones despite their lack of military experience.
“Tragically, some recruits have been deployed into active battlefields in host nations without any prior military awareness,” he said.
Zhemu said Zimbabwean law prohibited the recruitment of citizens for mercenary activities and urged job seekers to verify international employment offers before making commitments.
He also called on parents and guardians to take a keen interest in their children’s travel plans, particularly when they intend to seek employment abroad.
“Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to maintain active awareness of where their children are traveling,” Zhemu said.
He urged Zimbabweans who had fallen victim to the schemes and found themselves in distress abroad to alert relatives back home or contact Zimbabwean consular services in their host countries for assistance.
