“Pfekazvakanaka” - A new wave of repression

A new wave of repression has hit Bulawayo’s western suburbs and is spreading rapidly. It is called after its Shona name “pfekazvakanaka”, meaning “dress well”. I first heard about it this morning from a youth from Mpopoma, let’s call him Vusa.

Vusa is a good looking youth who, until yesterday, used to sport dreadlocks. But he told me how on Friday (June 24) he and a girl friend found themselves cornered by group of about 30 so-called riot police. I say “riot police” because, as Vusa explained, they were wearing new riot police uniforms. Yet the people of Mpopoma did not recognise any of them, and when they spoke to one another, it was observed that they talked in Shona.

There were both men and women in the unit. One of their number carried a rifle across his shoulder while the others were armed with iron bars and sticks. All one can say with any certainty therefore is that they were a group of Mu
gabe’s thugs, masquerading as riot police.

The group stopped Vusa and his friend and demanded to know why they were not dressed properly. It soon transpired that they objected to the dreadlocks. They also objected to the trousers worn by Vusa’s girl friend. Patriotic youths, they were told, must dress properly (Phekazvakanaka). These other fashions were not acceptable.

With threats and coarse abuse they instructed Vusa to cut off the dreadlocks at once and the girl to change into some more modest attire. The unit was sweeping through the townships and if they came across the couple again and they had not changed, they would be severely beaten.

Then, just to make the point that they were the law now and any resistance was futile, they ordered Vusa and the girl to carry the big hammers they were wielding, to their next demolition job down the next road. Another structure was to be destroyed, another family instantly rendered homeless.

Vusa was very relieved, he told me, to get away with his girl friend from this menacing group, which he has a shrewd idea are in fact youth militia graduates. And yes, though he hates ZANU PF mis-rule with a passion, he wasted no time in removing the dreadlocks and his girl friend, he informed me, had taken to wearing a dress. The difficult part is that she only has one dress.

Pfekazvakanaka is the new ZANU PF rule, and though totally illegal, is being enforced in one centre after another across the country. The next wave of repression is upon us.

Zimbabwe, Human Rights, Militia, Current Affairs

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