Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum: Report on pre-election political violence in Mberengwa Indiscriminate assaults The assaults carried out by Zanu (PF) members and war veterans were totally indiscriminate in nature. They ill-treated and assaulted people regardless of their age or disposition. People in their late 70’s and pregnant women were assaulted. This resulted in one woman having a miscarriage. Case 23: A group of Zanu (PF) youths came to my homestead in search of my husband. I was 7 months pregnant at the time. They demanded my MDC card. They beat me severely on my stomach leading to the death of my unborn baby. They also damaged my radio and stole 3 blankets. Case 24: I was taken from home around 12noon and forced to jump the fence surrounding my home and forced to accompany the Zanu (PF) supporters to where my friends were. I had no other clothes. Although I was pregnant I was forced to move very fast and was led to Garinyama School. As a result my baby arrived prematurely on the 27th of July instead of in September. I was forced to sleep outside out of fear. Targeting teachers Attacks upon teachers directed mainly at opposition supporters were part of a policy of intimidation against those who had the capacity and influence to inform their communities. Schools in some areas were unable to function as a result. It seems that educated individuals were regarded as a threat because they were capable of exercising their choice at the ballot box and were not influenced by the false story spread by Zanu (PF) in rural communities that Zanu (PF) would know which individuals have voted for the opposition, and would target them after the elections. In Mberengwa the educational delivery system was highly affected by the unrest. Twenty-five teachers were affected by incidents of political unrest, which undoubtedly impaired their ability to teach their pupils. Seventeen students were either intimidated or beaten up. A ten-year-old student was forced to drop out of school after he was beaten up by Zanu (PF) youths because his family were MDC supporters, while a girl aged 13 was living in the bush for one and a half weeks after being threatened by Zanu (PF) members. She attended school coming from the bush every day for the full week and a half. Case 25: I was forced to buy Zanu (PF) cards and accused of supporting MDC. I was forced to attend a Zanu (PF) meeting at Rwavamutagwi which openly abused teachers for supporting MDC I was also forced to contribute money towards feeding Zanu (PF) youths. Case 26: I and all the staff at the school were threatened. We were forced to attend a Zanu (PF) meeting at Rwavamutangwi and forced to buy Zanu (PF) cards. We were also forced to donate money to Zanu (PF) youths. They came back on several occasions. Case 27: Zanu (PF) youths came to my school and demanded Zanu (PF) cards from all the staff members. They then threatened us and intimidated us and asked us to produce our MDC cards. If we failed to do so they said they would invite other Zanu (PF) members in other places to come and beat us up. Amnesty for human rights violations The declaration by the President on 6 October 2000 of a formal amnesty for the gross human rights violations clearly has profound implications for these victims. Although the general amnesty will require prosecutions for murder, rape, statutory rape, indecent assault, robbery, and theft, it will excuse torture (assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and common assault), psychological torture (intimidation, threats, forced attendance at meetings), kidnapping, arson, and property destruction. 11