Political Bases as the Epicenter of Violence: Cases of Mazowe and Shamva, Zimbabwe

Political conflict and community health in Zimbabwe: Health professionals’ perspectives

“…The fact that perpetrators of the violence are well-known and are still around in Chegutu increases the trauma for victims (and most of them heal physically but have never been treated of PTSD) and the spectre of repeated violence by the same offenders as well as a potential physical response by the opposition defending themselves against repression. These findings are in accord with recent studies indicating that violence in Zimbabwe is methodical and political (Dodo, Nsenduluka & Kasanda 2016;Duri 2019;LeBas & Munemo 2019;Nyere 2016). These results also confirm the association between violence and physical and psychological trauma (Kidia 2018).…”

African Youth’s ‘Whirl-wind’ Allegiance to Leadership

“…Like it has been explained by Roessler (2005); Marshall-Fratani (2006); Murunga & Wasong"o (2007); Maina (2010); Sachikonye (2011); Gunya & Mthawanji (2015) and Dodo et al (2016), after the youth have been used for lengthy periods to sustain political systems and yet benefitting nothing, there comes a time when they begin to see differently. Factors that drive them to see differently vary such as; religious, education, ill-health, change of friends, change of settlements, form of counselling and advice, shift in income, and the degree of hope for the future among others.…”

“…However, over time, their roles evolved adding a security role to their list of tasks, and progressively becoming competitors in this regard vis-à-vis the recognised security apparatus of state in the form of the police and the army. To the sitting leaders, the existence of these militias is a welcome development given that they guarantee their continued stay in office despite an array of failures and abuse of human rights (Sachikonye 2011;Kawamara-Mishambi 2014;Janson 2016;Dodo et al 2016). This they achieve through killing, persecuting and infringing the rights of their perceived and known rivals and supporters.…”

“…It is against all the poverty, joblessness, hunger and lack of development that politicians decide to manipulate the youth for their political mileage. Some scholars have described this form of youth involvement into politics as strategic coercion (Dodo et al, 2016). In some cases, selected youth are exposed to livelihood means as a way of sending a message to others so that they also see hope in the politicians.…”

“…However, some youth are forced to believe and protect prevailing political systems by their elders. This form of coercion comes in different forms; security, food provision, access to social services, blackmail and the need to clear oneself (Dodo et al 2016).…”