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Daughters of Zimbabwe, torn by a far-off war.
When her 19-year-old daughter boarded a flight to Russia last year, Ulita Semende from Harare thought she was seeing her child head towards a more promising future.
Now, she is afraid that she has sent her to imprisonment.
We don't communicate much anymore," Semende said, her voice trembling. "The last time she called me on WhatsApp—back in May—she sounded hurried, scared. I'm starting to believe the rumors about the girls building drones because she's so secretive. She doesn't share anything about her job or her studies.
One of Semende's daughters is part of an increasing number of young Zimbabwean women who are thought to have been lured by Russia's "Alabuga Start" initiative. Marketed as a skills development and business training program, it has been associated with drone manufacturing for the conflict in Ukraine at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, more than 1,000 kilometers east of Moscow.
What started as a promise of opportunity has turned into a transnational crisis, trapping hundreds of young women from various parts of Africa, such as South Africa, Uganda, and Nigeria. Lured through social media influencers, student organizations, and occasionally individuals connected to the government, they are now at the heart of an escalating controversy.
Although South Africa and Uganda have initiated formal inquiries and halted their involvement, the Zimbabwean government's reaction has been characterized by silence, leaving families in a painful state of uncertainty.
During a post-cabinet press conference on Tuesday, Information Minister Jenfan Muswere mentioned that the government had not yet addressed the matter. "Regrettably, the topic you inquired about was not covered in today's briefing," he remarked. "We will consider it during our upcoming meeting."
Deputy Information Minister Omphile Marupi expressed the same view, stating to okay1, "We have not received any reports from the embassy regarding the exploitation of women... however, investigations are still in progress."
For families such as Sositina Mukatwa's, that official silence is unbearable. "I live in fear because the government remains quiet," said the 43-year-old from Chivhu. Her daughter left in 2023, citing only a scholarship. Since then, contact has been infrequent and tense.
She has only called three times to say she's okay, but I could tell she wasn't able to talk freely," Mukatwa explained. "The last time, she sounded intoxicated and suggested she had been fired. Later, she sent $200 and claimed she was 'back at work,' but wouldn't specify what she was doing.
In a Harare neighborhood, 55-year-old Ruzvidzo Masambaasiyana bears a comparable sense of guilt. He obtained the chance for his daughter via a friend in the government. "When she departed, I felt my link to those in higher positions had ultimately paid off," he remembers.
That assurance has now been broken. "I wasn't concerned until I saw the news—that they are producing drones utilized in the conflict. I attempted to discuss it with her in April, but she dismissed me. I feel as if I handed my daughter over into servitude."
A Challenge Born from Hardship
Renowned human rights activist Effie Ncube claims the crisis stems from widespread poverty and inequality across Africa. "It's no surprise that individuals are being drawn into the Ukraine-Russian conflict," he mentioned. "This issue should be a concern for all governments on the African continent and further afield."
He emphasized that Zimbabwe needs to collaborate with its regional allies for a unified approach. "This involves gathering support within the SADC region and also within the African Union since we are all linked together."
A gender activist from Bulawayo, Thando Gwiji, claims that desperation has left Zimbabwe's youth vulnerable. "As long as poverty isn't addressed, young people will choose to be enslaved and fed over being free but hungry," she mentioned. "Additionally, women's rights continue to lack sufficient funding, making young women susceptible to trafficking scams that appear as chances."
Academic Mehluli Nyathi cautions that the matter extends far beyond mere trickery. "This is not gentle diplomacy; it's economic pressure. African governments are being lured into military-industrial partnerships under the pretense of student education."
aA Call for Action
Linda Masarira, head of the LEAD party, has urged specific actions: enhancing border checks for young people, regulating foreign recruiters, and requiring online platforms to eliminate misleading advertisements.
Ultimately, we need to ensure that enforcement aligns with our Trafficking in Persons law and collaborate with the AU and SADC to establish a joint task force, as this issue spans across regions," Masarira stated. "Anything less conveys a message of impunity to those benefiting from the vulnerability of our daughters.
At this moment, families are left with nothing but echoes. The voices of their daughters, which were once familiar and near, now seem far away, quick, and filled with the shadow of an invisible conflict.
I'm unsure where to go," Ulita Semende murmurs, her hope diminishing every day. "I just long for my daughter to return home.
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