Notorious director of Youth Militia studying in Australia
By Tererai Karimakwenda
14 May, 2008

It has been discovered that a former director of ZANU PF Youth Militia has settled in Australia where he is studying. The name Reason Wafawarova brings back terrible memories to many whose lives he brutally touched. He was involved in the training of ZANU PF youth and directing gruesome programmes of torture. He is regarded as a serial human rights violator who has committed heinous crimes against the people.

Wafawarova had been silent in Zimbabwe lately, leaving many to wonder what he was up to. The discovery of his presence in Australia was largely due to information sent to the Movement for Democratic Change by residents in that country. Professor Elphas Mukonoweshuro, secretary for international affairs in the Tsvangirai MDC, said the party tries by all means to keep track of violators of human rights in Zimbabwe. He does not believe they should go “scott free” when the time comes to account.

Regarding those who go to other countries, Mukonoweshuro said: “Sometimes when they slip out of the country we do not have the capacity and the resources to locate where they will have settled. So the information is very vital.” The professor urged Zimbabweans around the world to send information about the whereabouts of perpetrators of violence. He added: “I do not believe they should be comfortable where they are.”

During his days as a student leader at the University of Zimbabwe, Wafawarova was secretly a mole who was already in the ranks of the ruling party’s violent machinery. UZ students from his time remember well that he joined the Faculty of Social Studies where he worked closely with the Central Intelligence Organization.

Upon graduation Wafawarova joined the ZANU PF Youth Militia as a Director of Programmes. It is in that capacity that he was involved in formulating, directing and implementing the programmes of violence, rape, torture and other gross human rights abuses against supporters of the opposition political parties.

Despite the fact that the youth militia are well known as violent agents of the ruling party and their acts have been documented, the government plans to expand the controversial training programme. Youth Minister Saviour Kasukuwere made the announcement in the state’s official paper The Herald on Monday. He said there are plans to have all youths go through the training programmes, but did not specify just how many would be enlisted.

It is widely believed that the ruling party is preparing for the presidential and parliamentary elections due next year. Graduates from the militia training camps have been used by ZANU-PF to assault and intimidate opposition supporters during elections in the past.