order that police allow access to medical treatment.54 Medical records obtained from Parirenyatwa hospital by Human Rights Watch indicate that the unionists sustained injuries ranging from fractured limbs to extensive bruising, deep cuts to the head, and perforated eardrums. The hospital admitted two of the unionists for treatment for extensive injuries including multiple fractures. Dr. Reginald Machaba Hove, a medical doctor who initially examined all the unionists, told Human Rights Watch: I first saw the ZCTU activists on Thursday evening [Sept 14]… I got to Parirenyatwa hospital around 8 p.m. They [the ZCTU activists] pitched up at 9 p.m. They came in two cars, police vehicles. There were many of them [the police], some in riot gear. There appeared to be one officer for each of the 15 and one or two senior commanders. [ZCTU Secretary General] Chibebe was in a bad way. His arm was obviously fractured. He was holding it against his chest. They [the activists] were in obvious pain. They were shuffling, which to me was an indication that they had been shackled at some point. Chibebe’s shirt was covered in blood. I overheard one of the [medical] casualty officers at the hospital say that “these are prisoners. It is not urgent. We will treat them tomorrow.” I had to speak to him and eventually he agreed to check them. He was quite shocked by what he saw. X-rays were carried out and they revealed that most of them had fractures. I was there at the hospital until 3:30 a.m. I was really shocked and taken back by what I saw. To me the injuries showed that they were trying to protect themselves. They were trying to protect their heads using their raised arms. They had fractures to their arms, wrists, and fingers. They all had defensive injuries. The blows were coming to their heads. Chibebe had cuts to his head. Most of them had severe bruises. They were black and blue and swollen all over their bodies—on the buttocks, everywhere. Even those without 54 Human Rights Watch interview with Tafadzwa Mugabe, September 22, and with Alec Muchadehama, October 4, 2006. “you will be thoroughly beaten” 20