GUNS
&ROSES
MAY 2021
Provincial
highlights
Mashonaland Central
In this province, following government's approval to re-introduce the Zanu PF-inclined
National Youth Service (NYS), a militia that is historically known to be used as a tool of
political persecution of opposition supporters in rural areas, some ruling party activists
promised there would be violence ahead of 2023.
‘JOIN ZANU PF BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE’
Zanu PF youths, citing the NYS, allegedly went around in some parts of Bindura,
warning that any citizen who still supported the MDC Alliance were supposed to join to
Zanu PF ‘before it was too late.’
This comes on the back of alleged plans by government to set up a NYS training camp
at a former military base in Bindura South, Ward 8 near Dengu village in Manhenga,
about 4 km from Bindura town.
The news of the setting up of a NYS base and the increased political activities by the
ruling party has continued to unsettle citizens around Bindura town.
The area is known for being a political hotspot during election times and in order to
assess the levels of fear, ZPP conducted a brief survey and of the 55 people
interviewed, 38 said they were apprehensive about the prospects of a violent election.
One of the citizens said:
Judging by what has happened since 2017 (when the coup happened)
soldiers have been more openly used for political purposes.
Now, adding to that, the Border Gezi (NYS) brigade is going to be there.
This means there will be no breathing space for anyone who is not a
Zanu PF supporter because if the party youths themselves could cause
enough havoc, what about with the presence of Border Gezi, the army
and the police?
‘Border Gezi
Youths’
A brief history
Zanu PF in first major
electoral setback following
the formation of the MDC,
which wins nearly half of
the parliamentary seats
NYS is formed, a year ahead
of a crucial presidential poll.
First camp set up in Mt
Darwin followed by dozens
across the country
NYS is responsible for
most of the electoral
violence ahead of the
2002 poll. NYS Brigades
are accused of sexual
abuse & torture of
opposition supporters
Poor camp conditions
and "allegations of
brutality” lead to a
number of youths
deserting the service.
Govt reportedly plans
to make it mandatory
2000
2001
2001-2
2021
2015
2007
By 2006
By 2003
Sports minister Kirsty
Coventry announces plans to
reintroduce the NYS
President Robert Mugabe
highlights plans to introduce
‘compulsory NYS trainings’.
The plan fails to take off
NYS is officially suspended
due to resource constraints
Reports emerge that
NYS training camps
were shutting down
due food and resource
shortages
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