SW Radio Africa (London)
Tererai Karimakwenda
12 May 2008
Youth militia descended on the home of a village head in Ward 8 Shamva and attacked the traditional leader and his wife with axes. Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa said Sabhuku Elias Madzivanzira, who was over 70 years old, died on the spot.
His wife suffered severe injuries but has been blocked from getting medical treatment. Muchemwa said she may die soon if nothing is done. He explained that Madzivanzira was targeted because his Ward produced a majority of opposition councillors in the March 29 election.
The youths went on to burn down about 80 homes in the area, which is run by Chief Mutumba. Muchemwa said all 80 of the families have fled and it is not clear where they are living. The Shamva area is where we reported that 100 families were camping outside the police station after their houses were burnt down.
According to our correspondent, ZANU-PF youth were given blue uniforms last Monday and are now known as the "Boys in Blue". Since then violence has escalated drastically in the Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East areas. The youth now travel in larger teams of 500 to 1,000 in order to make sure they outnumber opposition groups that were forming to defend themselves.
Muchemwa said the locals have implicated the Deputy Youth Minister and Mt Darwin MP Xavier Kasukuwere, as the chief architect of the violence in these areas. Our correspondent spoke to one of the ZANU-PF youth members who fled from their militia camp and he confirmed that they were being paid to carry out these brutal attacks.
Each targeted opposition supporter is rated by the chief organisesrs according to a "star" system. A target with 5 stars is the highest rating, meaning most wanted and is to be killed. 4 stars mean you rate a severe beating and torture. 3 stars will get you serious intimidation and mild assault. Muchemwa said the youth are being paid Z$10 billion if the target dies instantly. They get Z$5 billion if the target suffers serious injuries that could lead to death and Z$1 billion if they flee from their home.
A report from Chiredzi said there was a queue of these youth militia members at a local bank, where they were cashing their cheques. The government is obviously spending huge sums of money on this violent campaign, while complaining that they do not have sufficient funds for the runoff presidential election. To organize violence on such a large scale requires funding of salaries, vehicles, fuel, food and ammunition for this so-called "Operation Mavhotera Papi". Not forgetting the alcohol and drugs used to get the youth 'high.'
The violence is well documented by the government of South Africa. A New York Times newspaper report on Saturday said South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki sent a team of retired generals to Zimbabwe to look into the accusations of political violence. The report said the Generals were briefed by church and medical groups that are helping the wounded and that they also talked to the victims in a Harare hospital.
Commenting on the Generals' visit, one doctor is quoted as saying: "I was blown away by their concern". Zimbabweans can only hope that Mbeki can learn to be as equally concerned.
Our correspondent said people are devastated and angry at the violence and are vowing never to support a party that is capable of such horrific acts against it's own people. If Mugabe thinks that violence this time is going to ensure people vote for him in a presidential runoff, he is sadly mistaken.
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