Norton MP Hon Temba Mliswa says he is very much aware of the risks that come with taking a public stance against the marauding machete gangs now commonly referred to as “MaShurugwi”.

The celebrity legislator has at least one documented encounter with machete-wielders, having been eye-witness to an incident at Liquid Bar in his constituency. Then, revelers enjoying a Nyau performance had to run for dear life as the armed thugs ran amok.

“I was part of the crowd that day. Now, imagine if MP Mliswa can be a target, who is safe?”, asks the legislator rhetorically.

Hon Mliswa, says to him, the Liquid Bar incident was further confirmation that the gangs had backing from some high offices.

“I have always said it. I have even named some of the corrupt officials who are behind these gangs. That is why they are bold in their operations, operating in broad daylight without even hiding their identities. It points to a belief inculcated in them that they are well-protected from the law”, says Hon Mliswa.

While calling for the government security apparatus to be equally bold in dealing with machete gangs, Hon Mliswa says a lackadaisical approach to the problem will only nurture the gangs into even more dangerous militias at the beck-and-call of corrupt politicians.

“Similar gangs, originally said to have had the good intention of protecting Somalia’s coastline from pirates, eventually acquired firearms. They split into factions and each was adopted by a power-hungry warlord. The rest is history. Somalia has never known peace as it is now difficult to disarm the militias”, Hon Mliswa says.

“Or maybe our government is underestimating the power of the machete as a weapon of war and civil strife? The Rwandan genocide rode almost predominantly on the machete! A million people were butchered in the streets. Honestly, government has an obligation to act preemptively, even if political alliances suffer. If it is for the safety of the people, so be it”, he continues.

Although the so-called MaShurugwi are known to be involved in violent clashes associated with gold claims and artisanal mineholds, a worrying trend is that even robbers and other criminals outside the mine wars have seemingly adopted the machete. Mainly because they know the fear that many people have for MaShurugwi. Recently, a ZAOGA congregation was robbed by a machete-wielding gang in Gweru, while another horrific case saw a granny and her granddaughter macheted to death after being raped. Clearly, those can not be said to be victims of mineral wars.

The general fear is that, eventually, it will be difficult to differentiate between robbers and political militias, a situation that will muddy the pool in national security considerations.

While Hon Mliswa admits that no one is safe as long as the gangs are allowed free reign, he promises that he will not be silenced.

“Like I said, the political overlords of these gangs will come after me. Or they are already on my case. But that will not silence me. I speak even for the voiceless who now live in fear of machetes. I even speak for the genuine artisanal miners who are now unfortunately being painted with the same MaShurugwi brush. If I stop speaking so as to preserve my own life, I will have failed my calling”, he concludes.

Ironically, the MaShurugwi are named after the MP’s home area, Shurugwi in the Midlands province. Maybe it will take a voice from Shurugwi for the state to act boldly against MaShurugwi, or those masquerading as MaShurugwi.