Mugabe moves to indoctrinate Zimbabwe's youth

Ananova ^ | 01/28/02

[Arkle]

Zimbabwe is to make youth service training and indoctrination compulsory.

The opposition claims it is an attempt to create a private army.

State radio says all high school graduates will have to undergo youth training in government centres to instill them with "patriotism" and what it described as an unbiased understanding of the country's history.

Because of high unemployment, many youngsters have volunteered to join the national youth service where they are paid, fed, and clothed.

After almost 22 years in power, President Robert Mugabe, 77, is making every effort to stay in office ahead of forthcoming presidential elections.

His brutal crackdown on the opposition which has included tacit government approval of violence against opposition activists and legislation aimed at silencing any dissent in the southern African country has been criticised by the international community.

The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change called on the government to disband youth militias who have already graduated from a state training camp.

The opposition blames the militias, many dressed in green denim uniforms, of disrupting its meetings and rallies ahead of forthcoming presidential elections.

It says ruling party militants including youth militias disrupted two of its weekend campaign rallies in Harare.

Under sweeping new security laws passed earlier this month, police must be informed of arrangements for rallies four days in advance.

[Arkle]

Good to see Mugabe cares about youth unemployment.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Offer them food when they don't have any...

[Voltage]

There is nothing he can do which will prevent the long march into poverty for ZIM. He may be able to hold on for a while, but one days his rule will come crashing down, perhaps to be replaced by even worse. And the rest of Africa will soon join in the improvishment.