Camouflage clothing has for a very long time been popular urban clothing. If you are lucky enough, you can get yourself a pair of camouflage pants for as little as $1 on eBay. That bargain you get for your piece of clothing could get you into more trouble than you bargained for if you decide to wear it in Zimbabwe. According to the Defence Act (Chapter 11:02), wearing of camouflage materials by civilians, whether Zimbabwean or from any other country, is forbidden. This was something that was mentioned to me a few years ago but didn’t pay much attention to and quickly forgot about simply because of how in most parts of the world it is just a piece of clothing. At the time I was told that people wearing camouflage clothing were beaten up by soldiers and faced possible arrest.
Some weeks ago, a popular Zimbabwean DJ, DJ Squila was accused by soldiers of wearing army replica pants without permission. The soldiers proceeded to assault DJ Squila and threw him into a vehicle and drove off. They later threw him out of the vehicle whilst it was moving and he sustained serious head injuries. Luckily enough, a passer by took him to hospital where he received treatment. The Defence Act also states that anyone who without authority sells, offers or exposes for sale, wears or uses any uniform supplied to or authorized for use by any member of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces or other military forces shall be guilty of an offence.
The act may state that one shall be guilty of an offence but even if one is guilty, it does not give the soldiers such as the ones that assaulted DJ Squila the right to take justice into their own hands. Hearing of such behaviour reinforces all those statements about soldiers being illiterate people who don’t think about what they are doing and the consequences of their actions. This makes them very dangerous group of people who you don’t want to provoke in any way. In a country full of lawlessness it just isn’t worth it wearing camouflage clothing even more so when you have to contend with very poorly paid and disgruntled soldiers.
Would you dare to wear military clothing in Zimbabwe?
I will save my camouflage clothing for elsewhere, thank you!
@ T, It would be a good idea not to wear your camo clothing in Zimbabwe to avoid the stress you will go through.
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I have been to Zim before christmas this year 2011. To avoid a sunburn I had my woodland boonie heat with me and I forgot to put it back into my backback after leaving the national park… BAD IDEA!!! There was a road block. After 50,- USD fine and 30 minutes of negotiations, and the positive influence of the family name of my girlfriend (grandfather was a former politician there) we were allowed to pass. Actually they wanted to arrest me for that…
mea culpa!