Figure 1 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 2003 2002 Abduction/kidnapping Freedom of expression and association Property intimidation Political discrimination Torture 2001 Murder Numbers Total numbers of selected human rights violations per year: July 2001 to December 2003. Categories of violation. However, the picture becomes more remarkable if the total numbers of reports are plotted against dates. As can be seen from Figure 2 [see over], there are decided associations with events over the past three years, and the most compelling of these is the massive number of cases in March 2002, the timing of the Presidential Election, with the steady rise of cases up to the March Presidential Election and the consequent drop off of reports after the election was over. Furthermore, when events are associated with the peaks and troughs in the graph, a picture begins to emerge as suggested by the statistical analysis. Apart from the association of increased reporting of violations with the Presidential Election during 2002, the following months and events would also seem to be significant: · July 2001: National stay away on 2 and 3 July. Bye-election in Bindura constituency on the weekend of 27-28 July, following the death of Border Gezi. 12