Table 5: Violations reported at schools – 2001 to 2008 Abduction Assault Detained Forced to attend rallies Dismissed or forced to flee from School Total: Percentage: 2001 1 1 0 2 2002 0 0 0 2 2003 0 0 0 1 2004 0 0 0 0 2005 0 0 0 0 2006 0 0 0 0 2007 0 0 0 0 2008 1 1 0 1 Totals 2 (13%) 2 (13%) 0 6 (40%) 2 6 40% 1 3 20% 2 3 20% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 20% 5 (33%) 15 The case below, from 2001, illustrates how pupils were affected, leading to both displacement and then assault. After political violence in Manhenga, B.J., aged 15, and his family moved to Bindura. On 22 October he returned to Waerera School for exams. On that day two Zanu (PF) youths came and assaulted him, demanding to know where his father was. They removed him and his sister from school and threatened to make her their „wife‟. They both escaped later. As a result of the assault, he has a perforated left eardrum and impaired hearing which could lead to permanent damage. One of the most serious aspects of the attacks on education has been the use of schools as places of political activity, and especially their use as “bases” where extreme violence was meted out to opposition members, and even those merely suspected of being opposition supporters. The female victim reports that she was assaulted and had her home destroyed by ZANU PF youths on 18 May 2008. The youths set the home in which she and her children were sleeping on fire. They managed to get out of the home unharmed. On 19 May 2008 the ZANU PF youths returned to her home and took her to their base at Katerera Primary School where she was assaulted with an axe handle. Her second hut was also set on fire during this attack. Her husband had fled to Harare after he had been threatened by the youths. One of the frequent effects of the political activity and violence that affected schools was the focus on teachers themselves, as has been described in previous reports14. 14 See again Pswarayi, L, & Reeler, A.P (2102), „Fragility‟ and education in Zimbabwe: Assessing the impact of violence on education. December 2012, HARARE: RESEARCHA & ADVOCACY UNIT; PTUZ (2012), Every School has a Story. A Preliminary Report on Teachers Experiences of Elections in Zimbabwe. Report produced by PTUZ and RAU. February 2012. HARARE: PROGRESSIVE TEACHERS UNION OF ZIMBABWE and RESEARCH & ADVOCACY UNIT; PTUZ (2012), Political Violence and Intimidation of Zimbabwean Teachers. May 2012. Report prepared for the Progressive Teachers Union of 13