GOVERNMENT says it has not formally received reports of Zimbabweans trapped in Russia’s Alabuga programme, a scheme marketed as a training and entrepreneurship initiative, but now linked to drone manufacturing in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone.
A number of African countries, including neighbouring South Africa, have raised the red flag over the programme amid calls on Harare to launch an independent investigation.
During post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services minister Jenfan Muswere confirmed that the government has not received formal reports or complaints regarding the issue.
“Unfortunately, what you asked wasn’t discussed in today’s briefing. We will take it into consideration in our next meeting,” he said.
Information deputy minister Omphile Marupi told NewsDay in an interview: "We have not heard any reports from the embassy on the exploitation of women and teenagers, but investigations are on-going.”
This comes in the wake of similar investigations in South Africa, where Pretoria has launched a probe into the recruitment of its citizens for the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
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“The government of South Africa has received distress calls for assistance to return home from 17 South African men, between the ages of 20 and 39 years, who are trapped in the war-torn Donbas Ukraine,” the South African presidency said in a statement last week.
“The seventeen, 16 of whom come from KwaZulu-Natal and one from the Eastern Cape, were lured to join mercenary forces involved in the Ukraine-Russia war on the pretext of lucrative employment contracts.
“Under the Foreign Military Assistance Act of 1998, it is illegal for South African citizens and entities to offer or provide military assistance to foreign governments or participate in armies of foreign governments unless authorised by the South African government.”
Uganda has suspended participation, while Nigeria is embroiled a similar recruitment controversy.
While Zimbabwean authorities remain silent, pressure is mounting from activists and rights groups who argue that the government must take immediate action.
Linda Masarira, president of the opposition LEAD party, said what was unfolding in Alabuga “demands an immediate, whole-of-government response” and stricter controls on overseas recruiters.
“Anything less signals impunity to those profiting from our daughters’ vulnerability,” Masarira added.
Human rights advocate Effie Ncube said Africa’s poverty made its young people easy prey for exploitation.
“It’s not surprising that many have been dragged into the Ukraine-Russia conflict. This should concern every African government,” he said.
Bulawayo-based gender activist Thando Gwiji also raised similar concerns.
“Youth desperation is now so severe that many will volunteer to be enslaved and fed rather than be free and hungry,” Gwiji said, urging greater investment in women’s rights programmes and digital-safety education to protect vulnerable individuals from such exploitation.
The Russian embassy in Zimbabwe has, however, defended the Alabuga Start programme as a shining example of Russia-Africa co-operation, aimed at training highly skilled personnel in fields such as drone manufacturing.
“The intention of the Russian government is to increase the number of scholarships allocated to Zimbabwean youth,” the embassy stated.
The embassy highlighted the increasing number of opportunities for Zimbabweans to participate in the programme, including technical training, Russian language courses and work placements.
“We have never exploited African people nor have we engaged in anything inhumane on the continent.
“On the contrary, we have always supported Africa in its struggle for independence, sovereignty and creation of basic conditions for economic development.”
The Russian government also provides scholarships for Zimbabwean students to pursue studies in that country, as part of the Russia-Africa study initiative.