More than 40 Zimbabweans are stranded in Sierra Leone after being lured to the West African nation by promises of lucrative jobs that turned out to be non-existent.

The group, seeking to escape Zimbabwe’s deepening crisis, arrived in Sierra Leone with hopes of finding work, only to face a grim reality.

The job scam involved a local company allegedly working in collaboration with a foreign entity, which promised these individuals well-paying employment opportunities.

However, upon reaching Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, they discovered that no such jobs were available.

Authorities have classified the Zimbabweans’ plight as a case of human trafficking.

A government official, who spoke to The Herald on the condition of anonymity, revealed that seven Zimbabweans had managed to return home last week. Another four were expected to arrive on Tuesday, but they failed to return as scheduled.

“These people were duped into going to that country; they went with the promise of jobs but got a raw deal,” the official said.

The official further noted that investigations are ongoing, with efforts underway to negotiate the release of the stranded citizens.

“There is a lot of negotiation taking place to release our citizens. This issue has been silent, but there is now a push to release more citizens,” the official added.

As the Zimbabwean government works to resolve the situation, the victims remain in limbo, hoping for a swift resolution to their desperate circumstances.