by Christopher Makusha
The newly elected leader of the MDC-T, Douglas Mwonzora has reportedly activated the MDC youth militia group to counter Nelson Chamisa’s Vanguard group and pave way for his overall takeover of power from the ruling Zanu PF.
A contact close to the developments revealed that 43 youths were camped at an undisclosed location outside Harare going through rigorous training. The youths, according to the contact, were being trained by one Solomon Chikowore. Chikowore alias Sokis, is a former soldier and previously served as the Director of Security in the MDC. Chikowore, has pending murder cases with the country’s law enforcement agencies. He fled the country in 2003 after shooting dead a Zanu PF councillor identified as Manjengwa in Mbare. He is also a suspect in the death of a ZNA bomb squad official killed in 2003 whilst handling a suspicious parcel at the Tobacco Auction Floors.
In 2019, the country’s law enforcement agencies flagged him for smuggling illegal firearms from South Africa for use in the ill-fated August 16 demonstrations. According to police sources, Sokis, came into the country through illegal points with troves of assault rifles in anticipation of 16 August violence by the MDC Alliance. The guns brought in by Sokis, were largely used by the MDC Alliance in its 2019 staged abductions.
The contact further revealed that of the 43 youths, seventeen were drawn from Harare, fifteen from Nyanga district in Manicaland, four from Matabeleland South, three from Mashonaland West while the other four are from Masvingo province. The youths have been instructed to pounce on anyone who is identified as a threat, the source revealed.
Further, this publication has been told that the youths were promised fortnight allowances of USD$200 each by Mwonzora.
“Mwonzora mobilised close to USD$50 000 from an undisclosed source which will be channeled towards this project. The money will cater for all training needs including, food and allowances,” revealed the contact.
According to information at hand, Mwonzora is holding night meetings with the youths almost every day to discuss and perfect the project which he says only involves him, Chikowore alias Sokis, Giles Mutsekwa, Simon Hove, Piniel Denga and Shakespeare Mukoyi.
Apart from pouncing on threats identified by Mwonzora and his close allies, the combative group is also being trained in civil disobedience in the event that the Zanu PF government refuses Mwonzora’s GNU II proposal. The topics focus on dismantling the State Security apparatus and strategies of unleashing violent protests with Argentina, Georgia and Poland used as case studies.
The young activists are also receiving training in close protective security (CPS), organising mass protests, sustaining mass protests, sabotage (use of Molotov cocktails), the use of small arms and counter-intelligence, the source revealed.
“For the training they have sharp and piercing objects used in making incendiary bombs, radios, propaganda videos, detonators, 10cm explosives and small arms.
“The strategy would involve vandalism of vital installations like railway lines, mobile network base stations, signal equipment and burning ZUPCO buses. The move is expected to cripple the economy and drain the fiscus, thereby forcing ZANU PF to the negotiating table,” the source revealed.
Other trainers include Giles Mutsekwa (a former Rhodesian Front Officer), Shakespeare Mukoyi (founder of the shady Vanguard group and the mastermind of January 2019 violent protests), Simon Hove (former Glen Norah MP), Piniel Denga (Senator and former co-ordinator of the 2007 violence aimed at state security agents) and an unnamed white male.
“Mwonzora has since promoted Chikowore to be the MDC-T’s Secretary for Defence and Intelligence reporting directly to Mukoyi who has since been promoted to be MDC-T’s Secretary for Security,” the source said.
This publication, has it on good authority that the state security agents have since picked up Chikowore alias Sokis in connection with his pending cases as well as the 2019 violent protests.
Contacted for comment, Mwonzora’s spokesperson, Witness Dube refused to comment on the matter referring all questions to Mukoyi whose phone was unavailable.
