Youths and villagers who were interviewed said the training programme was now an open secret.
It also emerged that the youths, aged between 16 and 35 years, were recruited according to their political affiliation.
At Madziwa Business Centre, over 100 youths gather at around 5am in the morning and start with military drills before “toy-toying” to and from Bradley School, about 5km away.
After the drills, they are fed a dosage of Zanu PF ideology, taught the history of the liberation struggle and constantly reminded of the need to be patriotic.
They train for three days a week, from Monday to Wednesday and contribute US$1 every fortnight plus some maize meal for their upkeep.
Three MDC-T supporters who had joined the programme were ejected after they were identified and were labelled as “enemies”.
One of those ejected, Dickson Tembo (19) confirmed that they were fed a daily dosage of Zanu PF propaganda during training.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“When we registered, they told us that it was a non-partisan national programme but we were surprised when we were told to chant Zanu PF slogans and denounce Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai saying ‘Down with Tsvangirai’,” Tembo said.
Villagers also expressed concern about the training, which they believe is a Zanu PF project in preparation for elections. Zanu PF’s politburo this week said elections must be held this year.
The villagers said the programme reminded them of the June 2008 violent one-man presidential runoff poll.
“They passed through my homestead singing that they will repeat what they did in June 2008 if need be,” said MDC-T district co-ordinator for Shamva Chenai Yohane.
“The trainers sometimes put on the Border Gezi uniforms.”
When the three MDC-T supporters were kicked out of the programme, Yohane confronted one of the coordinators, Obert Muchemwa, who openly told her: “I only train Zanu PF supporters, not sellouts”.
In Mazowe Central constituency, the training centres are at Kakora, Nyakudya and Nzvimbo Growth Point.
The MP for the area, Shephard Mushonga (MDC-T) said the programme was meant to intimidate MDC supporters ahead of elections.
MDC-T Manicaland provincial spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya also confirmed the training of militia in his province.
“We have established that they are taught how to operate and clean guns,” Muchauraya said.
“We have also gathered that they will be deployed once the election date is announced.”
