member. In March 2001, twenty war veterans stormed the offices of the organization looking for an employee whom they accused of being an MDC member. He was severely beaten, sustained severe injuries to his eyes and head, and was hospitalized for two weeks. The war veterans at first demanded that the office should be closed, but later allowed the office to re-open on condition that the employee did not return to work. The office was later permanently closed by the organization due to insecurity connected to the incident.77 Local human rights activists informed Human Rights Watch that in parts of Manicaland and Mashonaland, those who were labeled as MDC were sometimes forced from their rural homes by ZANU PF supporters or ended up losing their jobs due to intimidation from ruling party supporters and members.78 For example, in Chipinge South, Manicaland province, Human Rights Watch interviewed the headmaster of a local school. On August 2, 2004, several ZANU PF youth visited his school, accused him of being an MDC supporter and beat and threatened him in front of his fellow teachers and school children. On August 11 (Heroes Day in Zimbabwe) ZANU PF youth paraded him at a ZANU PF rally and forced him to apologize for being an MDC supporter. Although he reported his case to the police and the local education authorities, nothing was done. He was unable to go back to the school and ZANU PF youth continued to threaten him.79 In all the places Human Rights Watch visited, local human rights activists, NGOs and oppositions supporters informed Human Rights Watch that ZANU PF youth supporters routinely forced people to attend ZANU PF rallies or public meetings. Youths from the ruling party went door-to-door forcing people out of their houses and also came around once meetings had begun to ensure that no one stayed in. In a few instances, Human Rights Watch received reports from human rights activists and ZANU PF supporters that in some areas, ZANU PF youth no longer forced local people to go to ZANU PF rallies.80 In Chitungwiza and the high density areas of Kuwadzana and Warren Park D in Harare, MDC supporters and local human rights activists claimed that many young MDC supporters were forced to go to ZANU PF meetings for fear of reprisals from ZANU 77 Human Rights Watch interview, Harare, December 16, 2004. 78 Human Rights Watch interviews with local human rights activists, Manicaland, Mashonaland West and Harare, December 2004 and February 2005. 79 Human Rights Watch interview, Chipinge South, December 18, 2004. 80 Human Rights Watch interviews, Harare and Bulawayo, December 2004 and February 2005. 18