Over the years the militias have taken part in the harassment, intimidation, beatings and murder of opposition activists. Now the paper says villagers in the hunger-stricken area are being forced to pay US$2 and donate 5kg of maize meal towards the graduation of about 200 militia.
"They are holding meetings in each and every village ordering people to contribute towards the graduation which they said is on the 27th of August," one villager told the paper. "They tell us that those who fail to pay will be in for it but they are not specific on what form of action they will take."
The sad thing about the situation is that most of the villagers in the area themselves need food assistance because of this year’s drought. The Standard newspaper also reports that in some cases known MDC-T supporters are being forced to donate more high value livestock, like goats.