By Staff Reporter
Presidential aspirant and Chienge Member of Parliament, Given Katuta Mwelwa, has warned of a growing regional crisis as more young Africans are being recruited under false pretences into dangerous foreign environments, including Russian-linked training and work schemes.
“This is not just exploitation. It is modern-day slavery disguised as opportunity,” she said recently in response to reports of young African women and men lured abroad by promises of jobs, scholarships, security training and a better life, only to find themselves trapped, coerced and in some cases taken into war zones.
Alabuga: A Case of False Promises
The BBC has documented allegations from young women taken to Russia’s Alabuga economic zone through study and employment programmes. One of them described arriving in Russia expecting professional training, only to find herself subjected to gruelling labour, strict surveillance and threats for trying to leave.
Some women had their passports confiscated. Others said they were told they owed debts and had to work them off.
In reaction, Katuta says this is the same pattern appearing across borders where “young Africans are being targeted, recruited and deceived”.
South Africa and the Shocking Recruiting of Men for Ukraine
The crisis is not only affecting women. In South Africa, investigations have exposed how at least 17 young men were recruited for what they believed was lawful training, but ended up being transported into Russia and later Ukraine’s Donbas region to fight as mercenaries.
One of the men, identified by the BBC as “Sipho” for security reasons, sent desperate voice notes home describing the reality: “Things you see in movies, we’re seeing live.”
His family says the group signed contracts they could not read and were later separated and moved into the war zone. Some now find themselves within kilometres of the frontline, and are desperately appealing for their repatriation back home.
Among those connected to this trafficking is Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, who has since resigned from parliament following the scandal, while insisting she believed the programme was legitimate. MK party leaders say they are now working to repatriate the men back to South Africa.
The South African government had earlier received distress calls for assistance to return home from the 17 South African men, between the ages of 20 – 39 years, who are trapped in the war-torn Donbas Ukraine. The seventeen, 16 of whom come from KwaZulu-Natal and one (1) from the Eastern Cape, were lured to join mercenary forces involved in the Ukraine-Russia war under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts, according to a statement shared with the South African media.
President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances that led to the recruitment of these young men into these seemingly mercenary activities.
“The South African government is working through diplomatic channels to secure the return of these young men following their calls for assistance to return home,” according to a statement issued by the South African presidency on November 6.
For Katuta, these developments are clear warning signs.
“These are not isolated incidents. Africa is being targeted,” she warned.
Katuta has urged the Zambian government to act immediately to prevent similar schemes from taking root in Zambia.
She said the government must investigate foreign recruitment operations, work with Interpol and regional governments, prosecute traffickers and local accomplices, repatriate Zambians already trapped abroad and build stronger youth employment and skills programmes.
“This goes beyond politics or law enforcement,” Katuta said. “It is a moral duty.”
A Continental Pattern
In Botswana, like South Africa, action is being taken. The government there has already launched investigations into recruitment schemes while South Africa has warned of illegal military recruitment. Women in Russia’s Alabuga facility have reported coercion and some families are pleading for the safe return of those caught up in Ukraine’s war.
Katuta says the lesson is clear: “If we do not act now, more of our youth will be taken. Our sons and daughters deserve dignity and opportunity—not a trap dressed up as a future.”
Katuta says the region must act before more young Africans are forced into dangerous conflicts and abusive labour systems abroad.