THE government has come under fire from human rights activists for remaining silent amid mounting evidence that African women and teenagers are being abused in Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Reports have linked the high-security industrial hub — associated with Moscow’s drone production and military logistics — to the exploitation of young African women recruited under the guise of education and skills development.
The recruitment drive, branded Alabuga Start, has allegedly targeted young women from across the continent, including South Africa, Uganda and Nigeria.
Victims are said to have been lured through social media influencers, student networks and organisations with diplomatic links, promising “training and entrepreneurship opportunities” in Russia.
Zimbabwe was expected to raise the matter at the second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, held in Cairo, Egypt, from December 19 to 20.
Instead, the issue went unmentioned.
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Zimbabwe was represented at the conference by Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Amon Murwira.
The high-level meeting brought together ministers from more than 50 African countries and senior officials from regional and continental bodies.
The forum was co-chaired by Egyptian Foreign minister Badr Abdelatty, his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and Angolan Foreign minister Tete António, the current chair of the African Union Council of Ministers.
The gathering is widely regarded as strategically important for Africa, as it seeks to strengthen political and economic co-operation with Russia, enhance development partnerships and boost the continent’s influence on the global stage.
Foreign Affairs ministry spokesperson Philisiwe Chidawanyika confirmed Murwira’s participation in the meeting but made no reference to the Alabuga allegations.
“Under its reaffirmation, engagement and re-engagement policy, and guided by the doctrine that ‘Zimbabwe is open for business,’ Zimbabwe continues to engage other countries for mutually beneficial co-operation to promote trade, investment and economic development,” she told NewsDay.
Chidawanyika said Murwira held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Algeria, Egypt and Russia on the sidelines of the conference.
Activists, however, argued that Zimbabwe’s silence sends a dangerous signal at a time when young Africans are allegedly being drawn into exploitative labour tied to Russia’s military-industrial complex.
Human rights advocate Effie Ncube said widespread poverty across the continent had created fertile ground 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 echoed the concerns, warning that desperation was pushing young people into perilous situations.
“Youth desperation is now so severe that many will volunteer to be enslaved and fed rather than be free and hungry,” she said, calling for investment in women’s rights initiatives and digital safety education to protect vulnerable youths.
The Russian embassy in Zimbabwe has previously dismissed the allegations, defending the Alabuga Start programme as a model of Russia-Africa co-operation.
The embassy said the initiative was designed to train highly-skilled personnel in areas such as drone manufacturing and technical innovation.
“The intention of the Russian government is to increase the number of scholarships allocated to Zimbabwean youth,” the embassy said.
The embassy highlighted the opportunities for Zimbabweans to participate in the programme, including technical training, Russian language courses and work placements.
“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 Russia, as part of the Russia-Africa study initiative.
Reports from South Africa indicate that Pretoria is in talks with Russia to bring home 17 South African men fighting for Russia in Ukraine, after they were allegedly tricked to the frontlines of the war by a daughter of former
South African president Jacob Zuma.
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has been accused in multiple lawsuits of luring the 17 South African and two Motswana men to Russia in July, by telling them they will be training as bodyguards for her father’s uMkhonto weSizwe political party or attending a personal development course.