ZANU‑PF recruits touts and rank marshals to counter protests

HARARE - ZANU‑PF has begun recruiting touts, public transport operators and rank marshals to counter what it calls “rogue elements” threatening national peace, with calls for the programme to be expanded countrywide gaining momentum.

The recruits, drawn from affiliate groups operating under various “economic development” (ED) banners, are said to command influence over aggressive youths who have pledged to defend what the party describes as the gains of the Second Republic under President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Speaking during a meeting of the Inspectors for Economic Development and the Harare Youths Transporters Association (HAYTA), ZANU‑PF Harare provincial youth chairperson Emmanuel Mahachi urged affiliates to be ready to defend the party “within and beyond maximum limits.”

“We have our youths already in various spots to defend the President within and beyond maximum limits. They are deployed to make sure the gains of the Second Republic under President Emmerson Mnangagwa won’t be distorted by any rogue elements, including protests,” Mahachi said.

“In various hotspots, we have ensured that our affiliate membership is represented to defend the President. We will descend heavily on all mechanisms that seek to destabilise the current peace. I am happy that several youths from your affiliates have heeded the call to defend our revolutionary party, even during periods when it seems unfashionable to do so. We will be doing it for our President and defending the 2030 agenda,” he added.

Inspectors for Economic Development chairperson Felix Mpofu appealed to both the party and Parliament to craft laws empowering rank marshals and inspectors to complement security forces during tense situations.

“We kindly request the party and possibly Parliament to craft laws that empower our rank marshals and inspectors to complement the tireless efforts of our security forces in defending and instilling peace. We need to beef up security during situations that prove tense,” Mpofu said.

He also called for youths from affiliate groups to be enrolled at the Chitepo School of Ideology for political orientation.

“If possible, we need to enrol some of our youths with the Chitepo School of Ideology so they get basic orientation in understanding the essence of defending the country before, during and after electoral processes, or whenever there is a possibility of protests,” he said.

HAYTA chairperson Edmore Gwengwe said public transporters were not violent but needed ideological training to improve professionalism and coordination with authorities.

“As public transport associations, we know our members are not violent, but we need to formalise our operations, especially in our interactions with authorities such as City Council officials during revenue collection. Let us coordinate our businesses with moral decency and without violating rights and freedoms enshrined in the national constitution,” Gwengwe said.

He added that some bus ranks had become hubs for drug trafficking and needed closer cooperation with inspectors to restore order.

The meeting — attended by touts, rank marshals and ZANU‑PF affiliate leaders — endorsed calls for expanded ideological training at the Chitepo School of Ideology.

The school, which promotes Zimbabwe’s foundational philosophies and socialist ideology, has drawn criticism from analysts who argue it is being used as a tool for ZANU‑PF political indoctrination. It has already trained civil servants, traditional leaders and various affiliate groups, raising concerns about partisan influence in state institutions.