Zimbabwe's torture training camps

BBC ^ | 27 February, 2004 | Hilary Andersson

[optimistically_conservative]

President Robert Mugabe's government has set up secret camps across the country in which thousands of youths are taught how to torture and kill, the BBC has learned.

Debbie was raped in a Zimbabwean youth camp

The Zimbabwean government says the camps are job training centres, but those who have escaped say they are part of a brutal plan to keep Mugabe in power.

Former recruits to the camps have spoken to the BBC's Panorama programme about a horrific training programme that breaks young teenagers down before encouraging them to commit atrocities.

Members of the youth militia are warned never to tell of their experiences inside the camps, and many refuse to be identified when talking about their experiences.

However one girl, Debbie, claims she was kidnapped and forced into a camp - where she was raped on her very first night.

I was raped again at night and they said no-one can complain because it's part of training Debbie

In accounts gathered by BBC Panorama from dozens of youths, it appears that for many of them the training in the camps begins with rape.

Debbie said she was raped three times on the first night, but claimed that the abuse didn't stop then.

She told the programme: "I was raped again at night and they said no-one can complain because its part of training."

She claims she used to share a blanket with an 11-year-old girl. The little girl was also raped night after night.

'Disturbed'

President Mugabe has visited the camps. Ministry insiders have told Panorama that his government knows what goes on inside them.

Daniel was taught to torture people

Food is often scarce. Youths are beaten until they succumb to orders. They are taught that their mission is to keep President Mugabe in power.

Panorama has also learned that some of the recruits are taught to torture his opponents.

Daniel was plied with alcohol and drugs, and learned how to electrocute his victims.

He said: "I would just touch, krr, krr - tell us information."

Asked if he thought it was OK to torture people, he added that it was "nice", because "your mind is disturbed".

'Eliminated'

During covert filming inside Zimbabwe, Panorama also spoke to a camp commander who told the programme that youths in his camp had been sent to kill opponents of President Mugabe.

He said: "In the area I am covering I heard of two. My superiors instructed that the people must be eliminated."

What is more frightening is that President Mugabe now wants every Zimbabwean youth to undergo training. We have been told they will be used to intimidate political opponents in next year's elections.

The commander added: "These guys are going to be used by the ruling party to keep the opposition out of power."

We put these allegations to Zimbabwe's government, but so far it has refused to respond.

[optimistically_conservative]

Glenn Reynolds at InstaPundit has archived Chirac's statesmanlike treatment of Mugabe.

[nuconvert]

You got a theme going here this morning...............

[End Times Sentinel]

Africa is rapidly backsliding into the horrific pit it always has been save for a brief shining moment when the euros colonized it. Law, order, and human dignity are being replaced by savagery, cruelty, misery, disease, war and famine... same as it ever was.

 

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[EQAndyBuzz]

Shouldn't Sharpton and Jackson be on their way there about now?

[zimdog]

Could you explain further how Africa has "always" been a "horrific pit" and how European colinization was a "brief shining moment" presumably full of "Law, order and human dignity"?

[headsonpikes]

You have to learn how to kill if you want to be one of the eaters in a Cannibal Kingdom like Mugabe's Zimbabwe.

Remember Cambodia - all things are possible to Marxist vanguard elements.

Mugabe and his cronies should be put down like diseased animals before they cause yet more suffering.

[Clive]

-

[cyborg]

Too many Tarzan movies.

[optimistically_conservative]

You got a theme going here this morning...............

LOL, it would seem that way. Call it my cynicism that the left complains about us when all their heros are actually doing what they accuse us of doing with no facts.

[optimistically_conservative]

savagery, cruelty, misery, disease, war and famine... same as it ever was.

You're talking about Haiti?

Wait, is there a connection there?

[cyborg]

Haiti had the Klintoon kiss of death.

[Dante3]

BUMP

[optimistically_conservative]

Haiti has been a thugocracy for 200 years. Klintoon was stupid to let his commie black caucus dopes pressure him into getting involved, much less restoring the corrupt commie Catholic Aristide.

In Europe they call certain politicians watermelons.

Aristide, and most of the Black Caucus members should be called Dracula's cape.

[cyborg]

Aristide was a catholic in name only, when in fact he is a big supporter of voodoo, a religion as backward as islam. Haiti had the misforunate of being formed by the French who weren't democratic themselves and much more into landgrabbing like the Spanish. I never understood why the congressionak black caucus almost all who are communists getting involved the affairs of other countries. They're only propping up communist dictators and not shamefaced about it. Easy to do that when you live in America and not in the actual country.

[Ironfocus]

"Too many Tarzan movies."

LOL..

Try "Africa Addio".

[optimistically_conservative]

Easy to do that when you live in America and not in the actual country.

In fact, my question to Randall Robinson was just that. If Aristide is such a GREAT man and leader, why did he insult him by choosing St. Kitt instead of Haiti as his ex-pat home.

The truth is the leftist intellectual knows that capitalism and democracy are the greatest threat to communistic/socialistic rule by the elite for the benefit of the proletariat. Aristide is one more example that the elite only want to rule and make noises about the "common good."

[SauronOfMordor]

Could you explain further how Africa has "always" been a "horrific pit" and how European colinization was a "brief shining moment" presumably full of "Law, order and human dignity"?

There are folk tales of a glorious past, but unfortunately the only Africa seen by outside observers has been pretty ugly

Zimbabwe may not have been paradise for the black population, but at least they did not starve, and did not have roving mobs with machetes killing, raping, and eating them (in whatever order suited the mob's fancy)

[cyborg]

Leon Schuster is the funniest man in Africa.

[SauronOfMordor]

I never understood why the congressionak black caucus almost all who are communists getting involved the affairs of other countries. They're only propping up communist dictators and not shamefaced about it.

Buying congress-critters is not that expensive for a thug who owns his own country. Perhaps some are cheaper to buy than others