The quietly spoken young man is not what you expect from a foot soldier in President Robert Mugabe's reactivated Chipangano militia, an army of trained thugs.
It has unleashed a brutal effort to secure the Zimbabwean leader's re-election in the next poll.
In a frank interview, Nyasha (not his real name) reveals how recruits were drilled in military tactics and political indoctrination at the notorious nearby Zanu (PF) base – contradicting the party's assertion there is no military instruction at the site.
Nyasha described how, fuelled on "rations" of marijuana and beer, youth brigades were sent on "community service" – a euphemism for vicious attacks on MDC supporters and their presidential candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai.
The gangs are led by Tendai Savanhu and Amos Midzi, the Harare Zanu (PF) chairman, in a carefully co-ordinated campaign of political violence.
Throughout our meeting at a secret location in Ardbennie, Nyasha’s eyes darted nervously and his voice often dropped to a whisper.
He had no doubt his comrades would kill him if they knew that he had disclosed their secrets, but nonetheless admitted to beating his victims senseless with clubs. He has also petrol bombed an MDC activist's home in Mbare and said others had killed MDC activists with axes and knives and, on one occasion, by burning down a house with its occupants inside.
Nyasha is no mindless thug, and does not even support Mugabe or his Zanu (PF) party, he is articulate and intelligent, but has been unemployed for eight years since leaving school.
He makes no apologies and said his motivation was purely financial.
For what Nyasha calls "a job well done" – usually a weekend rampage, stopping people and ordering them to show Zanu membership cards, and attacking suspected MDC followers – each receives the equivalent of $15.
"I have to survive,” he said, “it’s hunger pushing us into all this. What can we do?"
His biggest payday – just $30 – came recently when he helped mobilise thousands to the signing to the anti-sanctions petition and prevented Tsvangirai from addressing an MDC rally at a Glamis Arena.
Nyasha said he was given fitness training, drilled in gun-handling and military strategy and taught to follow orders unquestioningly by the commanders and lectured in pro-Zanu thinking and anti-MDC and anti-white propaganda.
The camp is the brainchild of Savanhu. "We see him when he visits to check on our progress," said Nyasha. "He tells us that it is our patriotic duty to remove anyone who hindered the progress of Zanu (PF). It was coded language, but we knew he meant the MDC.”
He believes there are eight camps in Mbare used by thousands of recruits, who likely have been told, as Nyasha has, they finish "community service" after the polls.
"I used to dream of being a doctor," he said. "But in this country you no longer select a career – you take anything you can. I was desperate and I took this.
"We are allowing ourselves to be used for money, and we know that Zanu (PF) will drop us if Mugabe wins."
Asked how he would vote in the presidential poll, he sat back and smiled for the only time in the interview.
"It's obvious, isn't it? I'm an MDC supporter. I'll be voting for Morgan Tsvangirai. This country has been ruined by Mugabe."
Post published in: News