summons were issued against them. In one case, an alleged perpetrator assaulted his victim after a civil law suit was filed against him.40 In Headlands, Manicaland, Farai C. told Human Rights Watch that no one was arrested or prosecuted for killing her 45-year-old son on June 22, 2008, even though members of the community knew the perpetrators – who were ZANU-PF officials and supporters – and that most of the perpetrators lived in neighboring villages. Farai C. told Human Rights Watch: We reported the case to the police and a police docket was opened. The police came a few days later saying they wanted to follow up on the suspects. I didn’t have the answers because I wasn’t there when my son was killed but other members of the community knew who the perpetrators were and told the police. They even gave the names to the police. The police said they would return but nothing has happened since and it’s now over two years. I find it hard to forgive. My son was the sole breadwinner in the family. Yet, the people who killed my son are roaming free in the community.41 In another case, on June 25, 2008, a group of ZANU-PF officials, supporters, and soldiers abducted and beat to death four elderly people in Manicaland province whom they suspected of voting for the MDC during the elections. James D., whose parents were among the four people killed, told Human Rights Watch: I was told by a certain lady that my parents were severely assaulted near a farm house. We went there and found them. My parents were with another couple. My father and the other two had already passed away and only my mother was alive but barely. She could still speak. We took the bodies home. We immediately went to make a police report and a police officer went to the hospital where my mother was admitted. She told him the names of the people who had beaten her and my father, as well as the other couple. The following morning my mother died. The policeman who took my mother’s statement was from Marondera police station. We understand the report was 40 Ibid. 41 Human Rights Watch interview with Farai C, Manicaland province, September 15, 2010 Perpetual Fear 28