Amnesty International Says "War Veterans" in Zimbabwe Are Forcibly Recruiting Youths to Attack Supporters of Opposition Leaders

(New York) -- Amnesty International today warned that the violence in Zimbabwe is reaching crisis levels, and revealed that "war veterans" are forcibly recruiting local youths to attack perceived supporters of the opposition MDC (Movement for Democratic Change)."Those who refuse to commit violence are assaulted and accused of being MDC supporters by the 'war veterans,'" said Simeon Mawanza, Amnesty International’s Zimbabwe researcher. At least 22 people have been killed and more than 900 have been treated for injuries sustained from the violence since the March 29 elections. Several hundred have been hospitalized and hundreds of families have been forced to flee their homes after they have been burned by gangs of "war veterans" and ZANU-PF youths.

By Amnesty International USA.

Humanitarian Policy Resource.