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 third instalment, in which a Bomber explores some of the problem MDC may face at the next election, especially in rural areas.Robert C (age 22)
Q: Where do you come from in Zimbabwe?
A: We live near Masvingo, just to the south of town.
Q: Why did you join the youth militia?
A: I wanted to get a job in the public service, but they said I must first have a certificate to show I have completed training with the Bombers.
Q: What did you do in the Bombers?
A: We raided some of the last white farms in our area to chase the farmers. And we had gangs to beat up MDC supporters, especially those who had positions like secretary or campaign workers.
Q: Why did you do those things?
A: You dont have a choice at all in what you do, only in how well you do it.
The War Vets and militia commanders make spies of many cadres, so even the one you think is close to you, maybe even your brother who is in the camp with you, they may be the ones who are telling the seniors that you refused to burn down a hut or beat a young girl when your comrades were doing those things and breaking bones and getting the job done.
Q: You could have run away at the start
A: I wanted to join the public service, so you think, Let me just get through this and I will finish it and start work in Harare.
Then as the time goes and with lectures on how bad are the British and their puppets and sellouts in the MDC, all day and sometimes you stay up all night shouting the slogans. After some months you believe.
And when you go out, everyone obeys you, even your former headmaster who used to beat you is now afraid of you, and it feels like you are in charge of the whole country. Its like being on the winning (side) at soccer. Is hard to explain, but others have no food and no jobs and you are eating at the camp and you are more respected than even the elders from your village. It feels good.
Q: Did the MDC put up a fight?
A: They have a youth wing, but they are just kids. And if someone tries to challenge you, they will be arrested by the police who will sometimes even hand that person to the militia.
But you can do what you want. So in rural areas the MDC cant fight. They just surrender.
Q: Yet MDC won the 2008 election?
A: They won but not by much. If the election was free, there would be no ZANU. I can even say ZANU would no longer exist. People are tired of being beaten, so MDC should have won nearly all seats in the country, but when you count the seats they only took a small way in front.
ZANU knows where they went wrong (in 2008) and they will not do it again. That is why you see militia camps setting up again. We were the ones who kept Mugabe in power from 2000.
Q: Who would you vote for in the next election?
A: I would vote MDC.
Q: And who do you think will win in 2011?
A: Its obvious ZANU will win this time. They know the mistakes and they will fix them.
Q: If you were talking to Morgan Tsvangirai, what advice would you give him?
A: In our area, there are people now who say they will not vote in the next election because there is no choice. MDC and ZANU are becoming the same.
That is the problem for MDC. The chiefs and the Bombers will make sure that all ZANU supporters go and vote.
But I think some of Tsvangirais people will not risk the problem of fighting for his party because they think MDC and ZANU are so much the same and the people at the top are only there for themselves. This problem is growing bigger and if the election is in maybe one year, by that time many more will not worry to vote.
Q: But these the same people who voted in the 2008 election?
A: And many will vote again. I am saying that some will not.
Q: So let me go back again the previous question. What would you tell Mr Tsvangirai?
A: Before the election, you must get out of this GNU and show how you are different from Mugabe. What for are you working with ZANU? Someone gets arrested and MDC has no power to spring him so prime minister is like a herd boy for Mugabe, just being sent to chase cattle when Mugabe says so. Must I risk my family to vote for that?
Q: Is there any advantage to the GNU?
A: Of course. For now MDC is more free to campaign in rural areas because of the GNU. ZANU also have an easy time to watch what MDC are doing because they are working together
Q: You seem convinced that whatever MDC does it is wrong. Are you sure this is not just a view left over from your training with the Militia?
A: Same every time. The MDC, foreign news, all believe that this time ZANU is gone. And after the election, who is in charge? And then we wait for next time and the same story that this will be different and ZANU is over.
This is what you can hear now.
If there was a war I can take a gun and go forward for Tsvangirai even if I die I dont care.
MDC cant get my view because they are looking at ZANU from outside the house but I was inside. So when I tell you the true story you think I am supporting ZANU and if I talk to MDC they say I am a lying. They dont want bad news.
MDC just want to hear that they will win next time and that is why they always lose.
Post published in: Politics