National youth service training - Solidarity Peace Trust

2. Youth militia in the wider context of ZANU-PF education policy
The issue of militia training being a prerequisite for tertiary training has been covered in the body of
the report. However, compulsory youth training for school leavers is being supplemented by other
forms of compulsory “national service” training for other sectors of the population. As the following
examples do not fall within the general youth militia training being focused on in this report, they are
here as an appendix.
For students already enrolled: a patriotism course
In November 2002, government announced that for those students already enrolled in colleges, from
January 2003 there would be a comp ulsory course entitled “National Strategic Studies”. No student
would be awarded a certificate or diploma unless they passed this subject. This applied to part time and
evening students as well. 187 The compulsory subject is referred to by a government source as “nothing
more than part of the curriculum from the National Youth Training Service”. 188 The subject is said to
cover the history of the liberation war and the land resettlement programme.
In March 2003, students at Bulawayo Polytechnic embarked on a boycott in protest against the
proposed launch of the compulsory “National Strategic Studies” course. The Student Representative
Council spokesperson called on other institutions affected by the course to join the boycott, “to save
tomorrow’s generation from brainwashing”. The students referred to the course as a “political ploy” by
ZANU-PF to “entice them to the party”. 189
For those already in the education service, a patriotism course
During 2002, the Department of Education began enforcing a crash course in compulsory National
Service Training for those teachers and headmasters already working under the ministry. Teachers
were informed that they were expected to do the training during the school holidays. However, teacher
turnout was below that wanted by go vernment, although several training sessions were held across the
country. In Masvingo for example, in December 2002, only 87 teachers from Masvingo Province and 2
from Harare turned up at Mushagashe Training Centre, instead of the expected 200. 190
Many of Zimbabwe’s schools are staffed predominantly by temporary teachers, who do not have
formal teaching qualifications, but have some O levels. Temporary teachers were informed in early
2003 that if they failed to do national service training during their April school holidays, they would
not have their contracts renewed. 191 A circular was sent to all temporary teachers saying they would
need “clearance by the ministry” before reemployment, and that to be cleared they must do three weeks
of militia training during school holidays. Those aged over 30 had to attend a two-day “reorientation”
exercise. A teacher who did the two day reorientation commented that it was a “sad development”, and
that the lectures had emphasised the Unity Accord and “why ZANU-PF deserves to be in power as
long as possible”. 192
187 The Zimbabwe Independent, Harare, 29 November: “Government to introduce a patriotism course”.
188 Ibid.
189 The Daily News, Harare, 1 March 2003: “Students reject national service lectures”.
190 The Standard, Harare, 15 December 2002: “Poor teacher turnout at national service”.
191 The Daily News, Harare, 18 May 2003: Temporary teachers forced to join national service”.
192 Ibid.
64