48-Year-Old Man In Court For Trafficking Zimbabweans Into Russia-Ukraine War

A Zimbabwean man appeared in the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Friday after he was arrested for allegedly recruiting job seekers with promises of well-paid work in Russia. Instead, they were allegedly forced to fight as mercenaries in the war in Ukraine. One of the recruits died.

Oscar Sifelani Mtshiya, 48, appeared before Harare magistrate Jesse Kufa on Friday. He faces five counts of human trafficking and running an employment agency without registration.

He was remanded in custody to 8 July for a decision on bail.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says Mtshiya worked with four accomplices based in Russia, who are still at large. Between January and June 2026, they allegedly recruited five Zimbabweans.

Prosecutors say the victims were tricked into thinking they would get well-paid jobs as firefighters and other civilian roles, including work linked to Russia’s defence ministry.

But when they arrived in Russia, their passports were taken away. They were allegedly exploited for labour, forced to do seven days of firearms training, and then sent to fight in the Ukraine war as mercenaries.

One of the five recruits died during the conflict.

The other victims are reportedly still in Russia. Zimbabwean authorities, through the Department of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, are trying to bring them home.

Investigators say Mtshiya organised the victims’ travel. His Russian associates allegedly processed airline tickets and visas, which he handed over.

He is also accused of receiving money through his EcoCash account from the alleged accomplices. He then sent some of that money to the recruits for transport to Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo.

Mtshiya is charged under Zimbabwe’s Trafficking in Persons Act for allegedly recruiting and helping to traffic the victims.

He also faces five counts of running an employment agency without registration, which is an offence under the Labour Act.

More: ZimLive