made to the Criminal Investigation Department in Mutare and an investigating officer from the Law and Order section was put in charge.42 James D. informed Human Rights Watch that police came once, on July 1, 2008, to take a statement, but did not return. He said that many of the alleged perpetrators were from the surrounding areas and one of those who led the beatings actually lived next door to James D. and his family. Tendai L., whose parents were also killed in the incident, told Human Rights Watch: It’s a painful experience knowing that our neighbors who we see every day were the perpetrators. I feel angry. The perpetrators have made it clear at their rallies that at the next elections they will do it again because they didn’t get arrested. We now live in perpetual fear. We can’t do anything about it. We have received no help from the state.43 Tendai L.’s brother Richard informed Human Rights Watch that the family had received further threats. He said, “One of the perpetrators has threatened us several times. He keeps saying that we are the ones who are left who need to be dealt with. They are going around saying that by the time of the next elections we shouldn’t be in this area.”44 Plaxedes Ndira, whose husband Tonderai was abducted and killed in May 2008 by alleged ZANU-PF supporters and officials told Human Rights Watch: “Forgiveness isn’t enough because they left wounds that can’t be healed. They need to go to jail for the rest of their lives. If this doesn’t happen when elections come next year, it [violence] will start again.”45 Despite filing a police report in 2008, Ndira has received no response from the police. Because of the police’s failure to investigate reports of political violence, local organizations have filed legal complaints and written letters to various government agencies calling for investigations on behalf of victims, but the organizations said the police have not responded. For example, in November 2010, lawyers for Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, representing 12 victims of political violence from Muzarabani district, northeast of Harare, wrote to Attorney General Johannes Tomana, the police in Muzarabani, and the Minister of 42 Human Rights Watch interview with James D, Manicaland province, September 15, 2010 43 Human Rights Watch interview with Tendai L, Manicaland province, September 15, 2010 44 Human Rights Watch interview, Manicaland province, September 15, 2010 45 Human Rights Watch interview with Plaxedes Ndira, Harare, November 24, 2010. 29 Human Rights Watch | March 2011