National youth service training - Solidarity Peace Trust

failed to place their nomination papers before their local court authorities, as a result of militia attacks
and rampant mobbing of the courts in smaller urban centres. 123
The towns of Bindura, Chegutu, Rusape, Karoi and Marondera were among the worst affected by the
youth militia violence. In these centres, MDC failed to register a single urban council candidate, as a
direct result of youth militia violence. Several of the prospective candidates in these towns had their
houses vandalised and fled into hiding after youth militia descended on them. In Chegutu, one MDC
candidate was in hospital with serious head and neck injuries after assaults by youth militia, and in
Karoi two MDC candidates were rushed to hospital after similar attacks. ZANU-PF had already by 22
July proclaimed the incoming council in Chegutu as entirely ZANU-PF, meaning there will be no
election here.
ZTV news coverage of the nomination day focused on Chegutu and made no mention whatsoever of
the youth militia violence. It portrayed court officials sitting patiently all day waiting, while the MDC
mysteriously failed to nominate anyone. The cameras showed the town mobbed by shouting and
dancing youths, but without comment. 124
In view of the pattern of all elections in the recent past, and taking events of mid-July into account, it
seems certain that the next few weeks will be marred by a violent urban campaign, and also that the
youth militia will once more play a pivotal role as perpetrators of such violence.
123 The Daily News, Harare, 22 July 2003: “Violence breaks out during nominations”; interviews aired on Short Wave
Radio Africa on 21 and 22 July 2003 corroborate the information given in this section.
124 Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation TV News Bulletin, 8 pm on 22 July 2003.
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