Zimbabwe: Forced recruitment by the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) of young men to serve in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); if taking place, regions that are affected, location of training camps and the government response (2001)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 8 February 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZWE38435.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Zimbabwe: Forced recruitment by the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) of young men to serve in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); if taking place, regions that are affected, location of training camps and the government response (2001) , 8 February 2002, ZWE38435.E , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4becf10.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No information on forced recruitment by the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) of young men to serve in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, some reports, which refer to national youth service program of youths (Daily News 22 Dec. 2001) and to soldiers who were recalled from the DRC for helping President Mugabe "to fight a crucial presidential election of March" [2002] (AfricaOnline 22 Dec. 2001) may be of interest.
According to 22 December 2001 report:
President Robert Mugabe is recalling thousands of Zimbabwean soldiers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to help him fight a crucial presidential election in March next year.
[ ...]
Zimbabwe has around 10 000 troops in the DRC helping the government there repel rebels bidding to take over the seat of government. The IFS report said most of these troops are to be recalled in order to be deployed in opposition strongholds in Zimbabwe's southern strongholds. Troop deployments in these areas have started last week.
The report also said all troop deployments to the DRC had been stopped for now. One official said the troops will be sent back.
The IFS article also reported that troops trained under the government's controversial national youth service program, descended on a Harare suburb and started attacking residents (africaOnline 22 Dec. 2001).
A 22 December 2001 Daily News report stated that:
Members of the Youth Brigade trained in Mount Darwin under the National
Youth Service attacked and held hostage on Thursday Dr Bernard Madzima, the medical superintendent at Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre.
[ ...]
The youths were deployed to the centre about two weeks ago. Members of the militia, trained under the cover of national service, have been unleashed in different parts of the country by Zanu PF.
A 4 January 2002 Financial Gazette report noted the following:
HUMAN rights and civic bodies, lawyers and ordinary Zimbabweans this week roundly condemned a fresh wave of terror unleashed on urban areas by ruling ZANU PF party militias.
Days after President Robert Mugabe called on his ZANU PF party during its annual conference last month to wage a "real war" against the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the militias have descended on residential areas in Harare and other urban centres hunting down MDC leaders and terrorising residents willy-nilly.
The human rights and civic groups said the violence being perpetrated by youths ostensibly on national service was yet another tactic by Mugabe to try to intimidate the opposition's urban power base ahead of presidential elections in March.
For additional information on youth's recruitment by ZANU-PF, please see ZWE38207.E of 4 December 2001.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
AfricaOnline. 22 December 2001. "Zimbabwe: Troops in DRC Recalled To 'Fight' Poll."
The Daily News [Harare]. 22 December 2001. Nyamutata Conrad. "Youth Brigade On Rampage."
Financial Gazette [Harare]. 4 January 2002. "Anger Over Urban Terror."
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential [London].
IRB Databases.
LEXIS/NEXIS.
Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent [Paris].
Resources Centre country file. Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum. August 2001. Political Motivated Violence in Zimbabwe 2000-2001. A Report on the Campaing of Political Repression Conducted by the Zimbabwean Government Under the Guise of Carrying Out Land Reform.
Websites including:
Immigration &Nationality Directorate, UK.
The International Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers.
International Crisis Group (ICG).
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).
Missionary Service News Agency (MISNA).
Observatoire de l'Afrique Centrale.
Panafrican News Agency (PANA).
ReliefWeb.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
War Resisters International.
Zimbabwe Independent [Harare].
Zimbabwe Human Rights ONG Forum.
Zimbabwe Standard [Harare].
Zwnews.
