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The New Age Voices Issue 23
Youth Agenda Trust
September 29, 2011

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Harare burning: Country sliding into anarchy

As Zimbabwe warms up to key elections namely the referendum and national elections likely to take place next year, the country's capital city has been engulfed by waves of violence which have taken various forms and magnitudes casting into doubt Harare's capacity to hold a serious election.

The violence which has been slowly unfolding in various parts of the country especially the marginalised areas reached fever pitch two months ago when rowdy Zanu PF youths descended on Parliament building and assaulted members of parliament, a journalist and members of the audience who had come to the hearing of the Human Rights Bill.

Such behaviour has been condemned by human rights watchdogs and civil society organisations notably the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and Youth Agenda Trust among others.

On Tuesday Zanu PF took its terror campaign a gear up by assaulting commuter omnibus drivers, conductors and rank marshals right at the charge office in full view of the police. The violent youths believed to be members of the dreaded Chipangano youth militia from Mbare descended on the Charge Office bus terminus and demanded fees from minibus drivers plying the Sunningdale-City route. It is believed the gang is attempting to control the terminus.

The gang assaulted drivers who resisted their demand for one dollar per trip. The New Age Voices is reliably informed that the money is eventually forwarded to senior ZANU PF provincial officials for use in party activities. The militia reportedly attacked rank marshals, drivers

conductors and anyone who resisted but Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo disowned them saying Chipangano "does not belong to us", although it is clear the militia is the backbone of Zanu PF Harare province violence team.

Only two weeks ago, members of Chipangano took their violence to Parliament again and this time attacked people who had come to witness the official opening of the 7th Parliament by President Robert Mugabe, an indication that the Zanu PF leader might be struggling to reign in his errant youths.

One Zanu PF legislator who requested anonymity for fear in of reprisals just summed it up saying, "I have never seen anything like this in my entire life. Who can dare engage in violence in the presence of the president?

Also this month, Zanu PF youths descended on Highfields high density suburb and assaulted traders at the Mukambo market before they looted wares worth thousands of dollars in their bid to also take over the market stalls.

With the re-emergence of the Border Gezi Training camps lookalike known as the Youth Build Zimbabwe programme, it is a sure bet that the impending elections may take a violent route as was with the case with the March 2008 which left without limbs while others are still missing up to today. Analysts say if the Zanu PF youths are allowed to continue with their violent activities, a free and fair election will continue to be a pipe dream for the millions of Zimbabweans who have been searching for a democratic solution to the numerous challenges that the country has been facing for 3 decades with the last decade having been the most daunting.

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