National youth service training - Solidarity Peace Trust

E. Response of law enforcement agencies to militia activities
The youth militia generally have acted with impunity if not in open collaboration with law
enforcement agencies, as already clearly indicated in this report. However, the relationship between the
youth militia and other state players has not always been uncontentious. At times the militia have
overstepped the mark as far as police, army and courts were concerned, as the following nonexhaustive
listing of incidents illustrates.
Police response to militia usurping their powers
In January 2002, the Minister of Home Affairs, John Nkomo, stated that the only institution in the
country that could mount roadblocks was the police. If anyone else was doing so, they were “breaking
the law” and would be prosecuted. 164 This was in response to questions in parliament from concerned
MDC MPs who asked why youth militia were mounting roadblocks and insisting on ZANU-PF cards.
In spite of this position being taken by the minister, it has not been possible to find instances in which
militia were arrested and prosecuted for mounting roadblocks, although police seem at times to have
dismantled such roadblocks without accompanying arrests.
A year later, in January 2003, police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena again stated that the police had
no special relationship with the youth militia and that youth militia could not usurp the powers of the
police, although they could “effect a citizen’s arrest just like any other person”. 165
The fact that youth militia routinely mounted roadblocks was not always favourably regarded by the
police. 166 However, those police that objected and tried to arrest militia for breaking the law in this or
other respects, found themselves being reprimanded by their superior officers. 167
In late July 2003, there was a major confrontation between youth militia and police in the rural town of
Kamativi, Matabeleland North. The largest youth training centre in the country was made fully
operational there in June 2003, and there have been many reported incidents of torture, property
destruction and illegal road blocks in this greater area. 168
The conflict with the youth militia began over their roadblocks into the town. For some months, since
April 2003, the youth militia operating in the area have enforced a process of “registration” on
everyone, whether resident or not, where they have to report all their movements in and out of town to
the youth militia. Shoppers have complained of having items stolen by the youth, and reports have also
been received of people being severely tortured if t hey are found in the town without having
“registered”. 169 The police in Kamativi dismantled this roadblock in July, only to find that the youth
replaced it a few days later.
164 The Herald, Harare, 10 January 2002: “Only police can mount road blocks”.
165 The Mirror, Harare, 7 January 2003; “ ‘Gezi youths’ not ZRP – Ministry”.
166 The Herald, Harare, 10 January 2002: “Only police can mount road blocks”.
167 Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum; “Human rights and Zimbabwe’s presidential election”, ibid, p. 67
168 Daily News, 16 April 2003, “Green Bombers turn Kamativi into garrison town”; Daily News, 18 July 2003, “Green
Bombers beat up evicted Kamativi residents”.
169 Ibid, also interviews with residents and eye witnesses in the greater area.
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