WEEK 2:The Zimbabwean has gained access to a series of extensive interviews recorded with members of the Youth Militia or Green Bombers. This week we publish the second instalment of these damning disclosures, in which a Bomber explains some of the weakness he believes could cost MDC at the next election.2. Claytus M. (age 22)
Q: You are Matabele, is that right?
A: Yes, I come from Matt South.
Q: Why did you join the youth militia?
A: My father was in ZIPRA during the war and he was local commander of the war vets in our area so he forced me to join the Bombers.
Q: What did you do in the Bombers?
A: It was softer for me because my father was around, but when we went out we had to do terrible things. You know, our area suffered with Gukurahundi, and I felt like I was doing those things again to my own people.
Q: What sort of things?
A: Beating people, burning huts, taking away crops from those who failed to support us. I did not kill anyone, and really the Bombers kill very few people. But they make a lot of injuries.
Q: So how did you get out?
A: Last year my father died and I was able to leave.
Q: Did you believe the teachings from the Camp?
A: I had grown up with it, but I also went to school and one of the reasons my father wanted me in the camp was that I am stubborn and said I thought ZAPU had sold out to ZANU when Nkomo went to join Mugabe in 1987. There were times, after singing for many hours or lectures from the political commissar, when you felt ZANU was right, but for me it did not last.
Q: You talk of 1987, but you were a baby.
A: Yes, but the Matabele are very political, especially my family, so you hear about these things as you are growing up.
Q: So do you now support the MDC?
A: I will vote for any party that is not ZANU.
Q: So MDC will form the next government?
A: MDC has always won in Matabeleland and ZANU knows that. But at the next election, every seat will be a fight. Outside Bulawayo and Harare, ZANU will not be defeated like 2008.
Q: And do the MDC know how to fight?
A: Of course. That is why they are still here since 1999. But ZANU are fighting with no rules. In Zimbabwe today, you cannot win without some violence. It is not possible.
Q: So what happened in 2008?
A: You see now? I would wonder if ZANU had maybe 10 per cent of support, but they won nearly half the Parliament.
Q: How did they do that?
A: There are so many ways. Fear is their number one, but also to make people think that life would be worse under MDC.
In 2008, things were so bad that no one could imagine it getting worse and MDC got most of the support. Now that the economy is coming better, ZANU is using ZBC to make it seem they are the ones who made this happen and that without them MDC could do nothing.
ZANU also uses many methods of cheating and counting. They relaxed some of this in 2008, but next time will be different.
Q: You say ZANU make it look like they improved the economy. Surely people are not stupid?
A: At least we have Studio 7 (VOA) and the short wave radio (SWRA) and The Zimbabwean so some of the truth can go through. But think of it. You are now eating and things are coming better and Mugabe is still president and ZANU controls most of the government.
If you vote for ZANU, things will continue to get better. If you vote for MDC, the same but you risk some attack from ZANU.
Q: Do people not know that the ballot is secret?
A: It is not the ballot. If MDC wins in an area, ZANU will target those people to be short of food or to get a new militia camp. There is always a cost of voting against ZANU, but there is no cost of voting against MDC.
Q: If you were talking to Morgan Tsvangirai, what advice would you give him?
A: Go back to where you were. Give up the PM job because it makes you look foolish. When you say, Stop invading farms, or Dont beat my supporters, ZANU dont listen and people see you have no power. If you have no power, how will you protect me when ZANU come to punish me?
Q: So how would he get the power you are talking about? Does he need an MDC militia.
A: If there was a war, most youth would be ready to die for MDC. But they never give us the chance to fight. So we must stand and watch ZANU or the Bombers damage our property or beat our families and the only reward is at election time you get an MDC T-shirt.
MDC militia would be a problem because the army and police are too strong, but they need something better than what is there now.
Q: Okay, Prime Minister Tsvangirai calls you to his office and says, I am giving you all the power and all money you need to sort out the next election. What would you do?
A: When the Bombers come to make trouble, they must know that it will be a fight with MDC structures or youth.
I would start my own radio station. Not VOA or short (wave), but pure MDC.
And he and his people must get out of their Benz and join the fight. The MDC ministers should leave suits and wear their own uniform, maybe even like the Nigerians, I dont know, but something to make them not look the same like the ZANU ministers. Maybe even just a red tie for every (MDC) minister, something to show on TV, We are not the same as ZANU.
At every village make sure there is no space for ZANU. MDC posters, MDC T-shirts, MDC black power bracelet and maZambia skirts for the women.
And you must have some control over the people who run the election.
Q: Would those things be possible? For example, MDC would be unlikely to get a radio licence.
A: If you want to win, you will not get it easy.
Q: What about the JOC?
A: You mean the generals?
Q: The generals, police commissioner, head of the airforce. Would they allow an MDC victory?
A: My father used to say you can be fat or you can be a fighter, not both. They are fat men and scared of arrest. For now they think they can hold (onto power), even if ZANU loses.
I think if they see they are not able to win by any means, they will negotiate. They are not stupid. The problem is they believe that when the time comes MDC will be destroyed so they have no reason to think about how to leave power.
Post published in: News