President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime clings to power, and a new organisation dubbed “X-Security Members4ED” has been unveiled, recruiting former members of Zimbabwe’s security forces.
The group, announced via a social media post by the Children of Zimbabwe War Veterans Association (COZWVA), is being led by Chairperson Innocent Chidumo and deputised by Gift Tembo, a former Officer-in-Charge at Chikanga Police Station in Mutare.
Critics argue this development signals the government’s escalating reliance on shadowy militias to intimidate opposition and silence dissent amid growing economic hardships and public discontent.
The announcement, posted on X (formerly Twitter) earlier today, describes the organisation as “anchored on attainment of Vision 2030” – Mnangagwa’s oft-criticised blueprint for economic revival that many Zimbabweans view as a hollow promise masking corruption and mismanagement.
The post explicitly calls for recruitment from ex-members of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), the Army, Police, and the Zimbabwe Prisons Service (ZPS), raising alarms about the potential for state-sanctioned violence.
Accompanying the text was a logo emblazoned with “X-Security Members E4D AED,” evoking militaristic imagery that opponents say harks back to the dark days of Robert Mugabe’s regime.
Public reaction on social media was swift and overwhelmingly negative, with users decrying the group as a thinly veiled paramilitary outfit designed to prop up Mnangagwa, commonly referred to as “ED.”
One commenter, @GizzahbaseA, bluntly labelled it “Paramilitary kkk,” highlighting fears that it could evolve into an armed wing enforcing government loyalty.
Another, @ATirivavi, went further, saying, “Ahh, this one should not be allowed, can be a terrorist organisation,” reflecting widespread concerns that such entities undermine the rule of law and pose a direct threat to civil liberties.
Scepticism about the group’s longevity and purpose was rife. @EriEri851072398 questioned its relevance beyond Mnangagwa’s tenure:
“If ED dies or retires, what happens to these stupid clubs!”
This sentiment underscores the perception that “4ED” affiliates are personality cults rather than genuine civic organisations, funded indirectly through taxpayer money while ordinary Zimbabweans grapple with hyperinflation and unemployment.
@MudzuriH mocked the proliferation of such groups, suggesting,
“What is left is to form the Dead 4 ED if it’s not there already,” a jab at the regime’s obsession with loyalty oaths.
@mufudzi_ proposed a satirical merger: “They should all just form one group brainless4ED ‘B4ED’,” implying the intellectual bankruptcy of pro-government factions.
Even cryptic responses, like @Brighto01259271
‘s “Kuda kurova bag” – interpreted by some as a call to “hit the sack” or abandon futile efforts – added to the chorus of derision.
Human rights advocates and opposition figures have long warned that Mnangagwa’s administration is militarising civilian spaces to suppress protests.
The formation of X-Security Members4ED comes amid reports of increased surveillance and crackdowns on dissenters, including arbitrary arrests of activists.
“This is not about security; it’s about securing power at any cost,” said an anonymous source familiar with Zimbabwe’s security apparatus, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
