Sanctions demo youths were 'drugged'

By Lance Guma

Hundreds of ZANU PF youths were bussed in from militia training camps in Mashonaland Central to demonstrate against targeted sanctions in Harare after being ‘drugged with mbanje (marijuana) and hot stuff’ a youth group has claimed.

On Wednesday ZANU PF youths marched through the streets of Harare waving placards denouncing the targeted measures imposed on nearly 200 officials linked to the Mugabe regime and about 31 companies accused of aiding and abetting the repression under the party.

On Thursday the Youth Alliance for Democracy accused ZANU PF of having deliberately drugged the youths at a meeting point near Marlborough Police Station on the outskirts of Harare.

With the youths high on the intoxicants they were then unleashed onto the streets ‘with only 4 police officers on bicycles,’ something which put ‘peaceful citizens at risk from thuggish behaviour.’

The group said ZANU PF Youth Affairs Secretary Absolom Sikhosana and Rugare Gumbo addressed the youths to ‘sensitize’ them on what to say and do during the demonstration.

The Youth Alliance Communications Officer Thulani Mswelanto said the demonstration, ‘only shows the extent to which the inclusive government is polarised and dominated by mistrust and political meddling.’

He said the demonstration by the youths was ‘a deliberate ploy by ZANU PF to divert the people’s attention from the real issues bedeviling the inclusive government.’ Mswelanto also accused Mugabe of continuing his tradition of manipulating youths to be the mouth piece of his political rhetoric.

‘The use of abusive language, and rekindling the memories of the June 27 ‘election’ shows that these are people who are not prepared to repent, that ZANU PF youths including their leaders view murder, torture, rape, mutilation as highly normal and to them human rights, respect for the rule of law are non existent and unnecessary,’ a Youth Alliance for Democracy statement read.

The European Union recently ratified its decision to extend targeted sanctions by another year citing the lack of progress in the unity government.

Only slight amendments were made to the list as 9 companies were de-listed and 6 names of mainly deceased people removed. Opposition ZAPU leader Dumiso Dabengwa who broke away from ZANU PF was one of the officials removed from the targeted sanctions list. SW Radio Africa