32 Time for accountability of political or other opinion. While it is permissible for states to impose certain restriction on some of the rights in the Covenant, any such restriction must meet a three-part test: it must be provided by law; and only for certain specified legitimate purposes, and it must be justified as being necessary [in the circumstances] for, and proportionate to its intended legitimate objective. Any restriction on these rights which does not comply with these criteria is not lawful. 12 Amnesty International press release, Zimbabwe: Harassment and intimidation as election looms, 26 March 2008. 13 Most groups reported to be abducting people were said to be driving two models of vehicles – Mahindra and CAM. Most of these vehicles did not have registration plates. Victims interviewed by Amnesty International from different parts of the country made similar observations. 14 United Nations, Zimbabwe Consolidated Appeal – Mid Year Review, June 2008. 15 The situation varied from area to area depending on the resourcefulness of local leadership. 16 Reasons 37 - 39, 100 Reasons to vote ZANU-PF & President Mugabe, pp. 23-26. This ZANU-PF Presidential election run-off manifesto was distributed widely as part of President Mugabe’s re-election campaign. 17 Interviewed by Amnesty International on 15 August 2008. 18 Soft tissue injury can lead to muscle breakdown – rhabdomyolysis – and protein entering the blood stream, which can cause kidney failure. 19 United Nations, Zimbabwe Consolidated Appeal Mid-Year Review, p6, June 2008. 20 The only provision in the Private Voluntary Organisations Act which empowers the Minister to take such action was section 21, which provided for the suspension of the Executive Committees of PVOs registered under the Act in the event that the Minister had evidence of violations of the law. However, Section 21 was struck down by the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe in the case of Holland & Ors vs Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare 1997 (1) ZLR 186 (S). The court ruled that this section was at odds with section 18 (9) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which stipulates that everyone is entitled to protection of the law. 21 United Nations, Zimbabwe Consolidated Appeal Mid-Year Review, June 2008, p13. 22 One victim from Murewa, after initially agreeing to be interviewed, decided to withdraw, fearing reprisal and that it would affect her marriage. 23 In 1995, the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) was banned by government from exhibiting at the Zimbabwe International Book Fair. President Mugabe has described gays and lesbians as “worse than dogs and pigs”. 24 Focus group discussion with men and women who were victims of beatings and torture at ZANU-PF camps in Masvingo province 15 August 2008. 25 United Nations, (2005) Report of the Fact-Finding Mission to Zimbabwe to access the Scope and Impact of Operation Murambatsvina by the UN Special Envoy on Human Settlement Issues in Zimbabwe, Mrs Anna Kajumulo Tibajuka. 26 See Amnesty International, No Justice for victim of forced evictions (Index: AFR 46/005/2006) 27 See Amnesty International, Zimbabwe: Power and Hunger – violations of the right to food, October 2004, Index: AFR 46/026/2004; Amnesty International, Zimbabwe: Between a rock and hard place – women human rights defenders at risk (Index: AFR 46/020/2007). Amnesty International AI Index: AFR 46/028/2008