Pro-Government Militias
Chipangano (Zimbabwe)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 97 |
| Country: | Zimbabwe |
| Date formed: | Jan. 1, 1980 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | decade |
| Details of Formation: | Chipangano was created by the governing party ZANU-PF in the 1980s. Their first activity was mentioned in March 2003, as a hit squad for ZANU-PF. The group is based in Harare's oldest township, Mbare. It has become a law unto itself, feared by police, and is said to answer only to leaders in ZANU-PF, as it goes on a warpath of violence, intimidation and harassment of opposition political figures. They are above police authority in Mbare. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | There is no evidence of the group being terminated. Their last activity was reported in 2013. |
| Termination Type(s): | not terminated |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | no |
| Former Armed Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no information |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | governing party |
| Government Link(s): | person/minister; political party |
| If link to party, name of party: | ZANU-PF |
| Training and Equipment: | no |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; plunder and loot; crime |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ideology; adolescents |
| Primary Membership: | political |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Mbare, Harare, Chitungwiza |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics; journalists |
| Purpose(s): | intimidation of civilians; intimidate political opposition |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The main purpose of this militant youth group is to violently intimidate Mugabe's political opponents (in particular MDC supporters). |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | In 2008, 63 Mbare families were evicted from their homes by Chipangano. The group told them that the reason for their eviction is because they supported the MDC in elections three months before. Although victims filed reports with the police, they were unable to help them (Human Rights Watch 2008). Chipangano operates with impunity. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | beating |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no |
| PGM Members Paid? | yes |
| Reasons for Membership: | Group members are sponsored by government officials but also violently collect revenues from council properties, including parking lots and flea market stalls. Material self-enrichment can be seen as one source of motivation to join the group. |
| PGM Members Killed? | never |
PGM Size
| Size: | no information |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | They are armed with hosepipes and iron bars (Human Rights Watch 2008). |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The leader of Chipangano is named Jim Kunaka. The youth group is divided into four branches, each with a distinct modus operandi. One group identifies MDC activists, while the second group carries out surveillance and monitors individuals and MDC structures. The third Chipangano group approaches MDC members and warns them of the dire consequences of supporting the party. The fourth group is seen as the most dangerous one, beating up MPs. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.