Getting close to the rubies still means risking your life Exactly ten years ago, in 2015, ZAM published the investigation The Ruby Plunder Wars of Montepuez . It revealed that in Montepuez, Mozambique — home to the world’s richest ruby deposit — a “local general pockets proceeds while artisanal miners get shot by Special Forces.” The report was met with vehement denials of responsibility by the majority mine owner, UK gemstone giant Gemfields, and with stony silence from its Mozambican partner...
Getting close to the rubies still means risking your life Exactly ten years ago, in 2015, ZAM published the investigation The Ruby Plunder Wars of...
How migrant fishermen followed their catch from Ghana to Denmark—and back Ghanaian fishermen who migrated to Europe because of overfishing along Ghana’s coastline have found themselves exploited in the European fishing industry. The companies that depend on their labour do little to ensure decent working conditions, a situation worsened by weak regulations and the rise of populist anti-migrant rhetoric in the global north. Interestingly, however, circumstances seem to be improving on the Ghanaian...
How migrant fishermen followed their catch from Ghana to Denmark—and back Ghanaian fishermen who migrated to Europe because of overfishing along Ghana’s...
Kleptocracy, a society or system ruled by those who use political power to appropriate their country’s resources for personal gain, became one of ZAM’s central themes after our colleagues in the Network of African Investigative Reporters and Editors, investigation after investigation, kept uncovering files and dubious agreements hidden in back rooms, tracing mansions, vast estates, private car parks, Swiss bank accounts, and New York shopping trips back to their beneficiaries. Finding underlying...
Kleptocracy, a society or system ruled by those who use political power to appropriate their country’s resources for personal gain, became one of ZAM’s...
The transnational investigation into the recruitment of African young women for Russia’s Alabuga drone site (see link to main story) was conducted by investigative journalists from seven African countries. They are featured below. Charles Mafa began the investigation in response to the mixed messaging received by the public in his home country, Zambia, caught between an intensive propaganda campaign and recruitment drive for Alabuga on one side, and troubling international reports on the other. He...
The transnational investigation into the recruitment of African young women for Russia’s Alabuga drone site (see link to main story) was conducted by...
Credible and licensed agents Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu, recently appealed to Kenyans to verify every job opportunity they come across. “The National Employment Authority can inform you about credible and licensed agents,” Njogu was quoted as saying, adding, “We are still seeing Kenyans using travel agents and tour companies in an attempt to find jobs abroad; however, these are not licensed operators.” The goal Njogu purported to embrace—proper control of...
Credible and licensed agents Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu, recently appealed to Kenyans to verify every job...
A dodgy channel Late last year, the world was alerted to disturbing reports that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 km east of Moscow. The reports also stated that the recruits—from at least 15 African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training, but once there, they were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance, and difficulties...
A dodgy channel Late last year, the world was alerted to disturbing reports that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to...
Left behind Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 km east of Moscow. Reports said that the recruits—from at least 15 African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training, but that once there, they were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance, and difficulties returning...
Left behind Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to...
Trafficking station Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 km east of Moscow. The reports also stated that the recruits—from at least 15 African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training, but once there, they were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance, and...
Trafficking station Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22,...
Sixteen unseen girls Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 km east of Moscow. Reports also said that the recruits—from at least 15 African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training, but once there, they were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance, and difficulties...
Sixteen unseen girls Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22,...
Caught in the snow Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to go and manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound a thousand km east of Moscow called Alabuga. The reports also stated that the recruits—from at least fifteen African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training but, once there, were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance,...
Caught in the snow Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22,...
First contact Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 kilometers east of Moscow. The reports also said that the recruits—from at least 15 African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training, but that once there, they were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance, and...
First contact Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to...
Looking for Oceanne Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound 1,000 km east of Moscow called Alabuga. The reports also said that the recruits—from at least 15 African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training, but that, once there, they were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance, and...
Looking for Oceanne Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22,...
African governments collude with the Russian recruitment of young women into its arms industry Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 18–22, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound 1,000 km east of Moscow, called the Alabuga Special Economic Zone. The reports also stated that the recruits—from at least fifteen African countries—were promised good salaries and skills training, but once there, they...
African governments collude with the Russian recruitment of young women into its arms industry Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing...
Manono’s lithium millionaires While numerous reports expose how multinationals have acquired natural resources cheaply, polluted communities, and exploited workers, the role of influential African political elites in facilitating these practices has received far less scrutiny. The DRC chapter of ZAM’s new transnational investigation into Africa’s Sell-Outs documents a partnership between politically connected Congolese actors and a group of foreign businessmen, to the detriment of a mining...
Manono’s lithium millionaires While numerous reports expose how multinationals have acquired natural resources cheaply, polluted communities, and...
Skin syndicates harm rural families and pay politicians — but good civil servants are fighting back Rural families in northeastern Ghana and parts of the Sahel have been losing vital farm donkeys—essential for ploughing and transporting crops—to a syndicate that kills the animals for their skins. The primary victims are peasants, often single women and widows, who manage small farms to support their families. Together with civil society organisations, committed state officials have made progress in...
Skin syndicates harm rural families and pay politicians — but good civil servants are fighting back Rural families in northeastern Ghana and parts of the...
Fighting the businessmen who erode the wetlands “This water cannot be for sale” While many reports expose how multinationals have acquired natural wealth cheaply, polluted communities, and exploited workers, the role of powerful African political elites in enabling these practices has received far less attention. The Gambia's chapter of ZAM’s new transnational investigation into Africa’s Sell-Outs documents the selling off of crucial wetlands to well-connected businessmen. The Tanbi Wetlands in...
Fighting the businessmen who erode the wetlands “This water cannot be for sale” While many reports expose how multinationals have acquired natural wealth...
Government Captured by Lobbyists While many reports expose how multinationals have acquired natural wealth cheaply, polluted communities, and exploited workers, the role of powerful African political elites in enabling these practices has received far less attention. Mozambique’s chapter of ZAM’s new transnational investigation into Africa’s Sell-Outs portrays a bizarre network of business lobbyists operating within both the government and the ruling party. At lunch in Maputo, my source—neatly...
Government Captured by Lobbyists While many reports expose how multinationals have acquired natural wealth cheaply, polluted communities, and exploited...
All the president’s minerals While many reports expose how multinationals have appropriated natural wealth on the cheap, polluted communities, and exploited workers, the facilitation of it all by powerful African political elites has not been highlighted as much. Zimbabwe’s chapter of ZAM’s new transnational investigation into Africa’s Sell-Outs, focuses on the mining businesses that are controlled by the country’s ruling party, ZANU PF. One cannot really go near most mining sites in Zimbabwe....
All the president’s minerals While many reports expose how multinationals have appropriated natural wealth on the cheap, polluted communities, and...
A corrupt political class While many reports expose how multinationals have appropriated natural wealth on the cheap, polluted communities, and exploited workers, the facilitation of it all by powerful African political elites has not been highlighted as much. Zambia’s chapter of ZAM’s new transnational investigation into Africa’s Sell-Outs focuses on a long-standing tradition of mining license interference by politicians in past and present ruling parties. Suddenly, the gold mining company...
A corrupt political class While many reports expose how multinationals have appropriated natural wealth on the cheap, polluted communities, and exploited...
The patrons who make the deals about their countries The exploitative stance taken by many multinationals in African countries has often been highlighted. Multiple reports expose how they appropriate natural wealth on the cheap, pollute communities and exploit workers. But the facilitation of this all by powerful African political elites has remained in the shadows. In Zambia, an entire political class is involved. In Mozambique, it still helps to know a general. The DRC has bred functionaries who...
The patrons who make the deals about their countries The exploitative stance taken by many multinationals in African countries has often been...
Update On Monday 19 May 2025, Agather Atuhaire, who features in the below report on legal action against the autocratic Museveni regime in Uganda, was abducted, held incommunicado for four days, and tortured, by the neighbouring, also dictatorial, regime in Tanzania. Held and tortured together with her was Kenyan good governance activist Boniface Mwangi. The two were part of a group of activists and lawyers that had come to Tanzania to observe the political trial against that country’s opposition...
Update On Monday 19 May 2025, Agather Atuhaire, who features in the below report on legal action against the autocratic Museveni regime in Uganda, was...
