The Sunday Mail
Nelson Mundanda
Criminal syndicates are luring Zimbabweans with promises of education scholarships in Asia before using their targets as drug mules. In a statement last week, the Foreign Affairs Ministry cautioned: “With regards to students intending to study in India, the ministry seeks to highlight there is automatic recognition of Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council qualification in India.“There is no need to pay any verification fees to anyone. If there is need for authentication, prospective students are advised to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The agents advertise in the Zimbabwean media and/or websites that they facilitate scholarship for Zimbabweans who want to study in China.
“In some instances they claim they offer part-scholarships, implying parents and guardians have to meet the other costs.”
The Foreign Affairs Ministry advised those seeking to travel abroad for any opportunities to always seek the assistance of Zimbabwe’s embassies in their countries of interest.
Some of the criminals claim they want people who can travel to Asia and return with beauty products, cheap textiles, wedding gowns and other small products, and then ask their “agents” to carry some baggage for delivery – which often contains drugs.
Many women have fallen victim to these scams and are serving jail sentences in Asian countries.
Other criminals have promised women good jobs in the Middle East, only for the ZImbabweans to end up in slavery in foreign climes.
Recently, Government came to the rescue of scores of women who had been trapped in Kuwait after being promised employment opportunities there but had been turned into domestic and sex slaves.
