3.5 Arrest and/or detention Not arrested/detained Arrested/detained Total Female 84% Male 68% Total 73% (N=195) 16% 100% (N=83) 32% 100% (N=184) 27% (N=72) 100% (N=267) Table 5: Experience of arrest and/or detention, by sex Over a quarter of clients (27% or 72 clients) indicated that they had been arrested or detained. Male clients were statistically more likely to report having been arrested or detained in comparison to female clients. Moreover, clients who indicated that they had been politically active in Zimbabwe and those who were MDC members were the most likely to be subject to arrest or detention. 3.6 Forms of torture experienced by clients In addition to being arrested or detained, clients were asked to describe their incidents of torture and to indicate whether they had experienced different forms of both physical and psychological torture in Zimbabwe. Forms of physical torture that clients were asked about include: beatings, sensory over stimulation, electric shock, falanga7, burnings, rape and indecent assault. In terms of psychological torture, clients were asked whether they experienced threats, harassment, witnessing of torture on others, as well as ‘psychological torture’ as an encompassing category inclusive of verbal abuse, false accusations, abuse with excrement and sexual abuse without violence. In this analysis, Operation Murambatsvina8 is included as a form of both physical and psychological torture, since it resulted in the physical assault and beating of individuals, in addition to having a devastating effect on the mental health of those affected. 7 Falanga is the term for a form of torture that involves beating the soles of the feet. It is very common in many countries, but has not been common in Zimbabwe until recently. Falanga is important to note as it is incontestably torture, since the soles of the feet cannot be beaten without restraining the person, and hence is clearly deliberate and intentional as required by the definition of torture in the UN Convention Against Torture. 8 Operation Murambatsvina is analysed in this case as a “clinically significant disorder” that had a devastating effect on the mental health of those affected, as well as a form of physical torture. For a more detailed analysis of Operation Murambatsvina, please see: An In-depth Study on the Impact of Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order in Zimbabwe (Harare: Action Aid International, November 2005). 10