Don’t just accept Saudi Arabia jobs: Zimbabwean women warned
Zimbabwean women have been warned not to blindly accept job offers from Saudi Arabia, especially in the beauty industry, amid a surge in false promises and human trafficking fears.
“While there are legitimate opportunities for decent employment in Saudi Arabia, some Zimbabweans, particularly ladies who have an interest in working in the beauty industry, are getting disillusioned when they arrive at their workplaces,” said Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Jonathan Wutawunashe.
He told The Herald that many are shocked to find “the working conditions offered by the employer are a far cry from those they were promised by recruiters back home.”
“Too good to be true” deals
Ambassador Wutawunashe warned of deceptive tactics used by some recruiters in Zimbabwe, who promise attractive salaries and luxury working environments to lure desperate job seekers.
“In some cases, recruiters who want to secure more business from employers promise cheap labour to the latter, while enticing prospective recruits with promises of inflated emoluments,”
he said.
The result? Employers grab the chance to hire cheaply, while Zimbabwean recruits arrive to a rude awakening.
“Our nationals must therefore exercise due diligence before accepting employment offers,”
he cautioned.
The embassy in Riyadh is offering support. Job seekers are encouraged to submit their contracts and details of potential employers for verification.
“Job seekers can send the contracts they are being offered, together with prospective employers’ location and contact details, to the embassy for verification before they commit to anything or pay any fee to anybody,”
said Wutawunashe.
Human traffickers still on the prowl
The warning comes just months after Caroline Ziyanga, a serial human trafficker, was sentenced to 90 years in prison for luring Zimbabwean women with fake Dubai jobs and forcing them into exploitation in Oman.
“Trusting Ziyanga’s misleading representations, the victims accepted the offer. However, upon their arrival in Oman, their passports were confiscated,” reported H-Metro.
In 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade also exposed a trafficking syndicate operating under the false name of Marriot Hotels, demanding US$400 from unsuspecting Zimbabweans for non-existent Canadian jobs.
Embassy urges vigilance
The Zimbabwean government says job seekers must remain alert and verify all offers through the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare or Zimbabwean embassies abroad.
“Members of the public are encouraged to check with the Ministry… to verify the authenticity of any such suspicious job offers,” said spokesperson Ms Constance Chemwai.
With traffickers constantly adapting, many are now using WhatsApp, relatives, and online adverts to reach their victims.
The message is clear—do not trust blindly.
“The presence of a Zimbabwean embassy in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, makes it easier to check the veracity of employment offers,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.
As cases of trafficking and labour exploitation mount, Zimbabwean women are being urged to ask questions, do checks, and not to fall for “too good to be true” offers.
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The post Fake Promises, Real Risks: Zimbabwean Women Warned About Saudi Arabia Jobs appeared first on iHarare News.
