As it can be observed from the graph above, and consistent with previous studies that have analysed patterns of violence in Zimbabwe5, there seems to be a strong correlation between reports of torture and other forms of organized violence and the lead up to important political events such as elections. The figure above shows increasing reports of torture and violence in January and February 2002, leading to the March 2002 presidential elections, and in January and February 2005, leading up to the March 2005 general parliamentary election. The figure also shows a marked increase in reports of violence and torture which coincides with the launch of Operation Murambatsvina (‘Restore Order’) in May 20056. 3.4 Relationship between time of first incident and time of arrival in South Africa Number of clients 30 25 20 15 10 5 Jan -0 M 2 arM 02 ay -02 Ju l-0 Se 2 pNo 02 v0 Jan 2 -0 M 3 ar M -03 ay -03 Ju l-0 Se 3 p No -03 v03 Jan -0 M 4 ar M -04 ay -04 Ju l-0 Se 4 pNo 04 v04 Jan -0 M 5 arM 05 ay -05 Ju l-0 Se 5 pNo 05 v0 Jan 5 -0 M 6 ar06 0 Date of arrival in SA Figure 3: Date of arrival in South Africa, as reported by clients 5 See for instance, Zimbabwe - Tortuous Patterns Destined to Repeat Themselves in Upcoming Election Campaign: Preliminary study of trends and associations in the pattern of torture and organised violence in Zimbabwe, July 2001 - December 2003 (Harare: Redress Trust, November 2004), 28; Zimbabwe - The Face of Torture and Organised Violence: Torture and Organised Violence in the run-up to the 31 March 2005 General Parliamentary Election (Harare: Redress Trust, March 2005). For a comprehensive survey and analysis of Zimbabwe from the perspective of torture survivors see REDRESS: Reparation for Torture: A Survey of the Law and Practice of Torture in 30 Countries: Zimbabwe Country Study, London, March 2003: http://www.redress.org/publications/Audit/Zimbabwe.pdf. 6 See for instance, Torture in Zimbabwe, Past and Present: Prevention, Punishment, Reparations? (Harare: Redress & Amani Trust, June 2005). 8