| Country: | Zimbabwe |
| Details of Formation: | The group is first mentioned in 1985, without further details on how they were created. |
| Details of Termination: | There is no evidence of the group being terminated. Their last activity was reported in 2019. |
| Purpose: | Their main purpose is to intimidate opposition politicians and their supporters, not exclusively but especially at election time. The group helped disrupting demonstrations and terrorised citizens to prevent them from attending planned demonstrations. The militia also took part in the invasion of white-owned farms in order to carry out Mugabe’s indigenisation drive. |
| Organisation: | One source suggests that in 2011, the militia was led by local party leader Mike Gwasha. |
| Weapons and Training: | The group is armed with clubs, knives, machetes, sticks, guns and stones to attack and intimidate opposition supporters. They are said to be trained by the army in short training periods. The government provides them with weapons and transport. |
| Size: | In one attack, witnesses reported more than 100 militia members. However, the overall number of members is likely to be much higher. |
| Reason for Membership: | no information |
| Treatment of Civilians: | During raids by the ZANU-PF militia, many civilians were assaulted and forced to flee their homes. Especially in post-election times, people fled fearing intimidation and threats of reprisals from the militia. The group was heavily involved in 2008s election violence and perpetrated human rights violations. It targeted opposition candidates, activists, and supporters. It was accused of abducting another party’s youth, and terrorised citizens before planned demonstrations. People were forced by the group to attend former President Mugabe’s events. The group operates with impunity. In one incident, the police refused to record a statement from victims. |
| Other Information: | -- |
| References: | Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD |