Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum: Report on pre-election political violence in Mberengwa 250 200 Number of Victims 150 100 50 Aug '00 Jul '00 Jun '00 May '00 Apr '00 Mar '00 No date given 0 Month No date given Mar '00 Apr '00 May '00 Jun '00 Jul '00 Aug '00 4 1 6 111 210 2 1 Number of Victims Perpetrators The perpetrators of the violence in the recorded cases are all from or affiliated with the ruling party, Zanu (PF). Some victims identified their perpetrators as belonging to a particular group, for example Zanu (PF) youths or War Veterans but were unable to name an individual amongst those who terrorised them. Cases may exist in which the perpetrators are from the opposition parties and who behaved violently towards members of the ruling party. However, as these were not recorded or reported, it is impossible for any data to be compiled regarding them. Only one case has been reported involving a fight between an MDC member and a member of Zanu (PF) which resulted in the death of the Zanu (PF) member. Others knew some of their victimisers by name and gave such names. There was a group of well known perpetrators named by several victims, namely, Langton Mangema, Festos Jamela and Clifford Donsa led by Wilson Kufa Chitoro commonly known as ‘Biggie’ Chitoro. He and six other war veterans have since been remanded in custody and charged with the murder of an MDC activist who died in Mberengwa on 9 June. By the end of September more than 200 persons had been arrested and charged with crimes relating to the election period. As can be seen from the table [see section on amnesty below], 96 perpetrators were identified, which means that 31% of the Mberengwa sample knew their persecutors. Re-education exercises The members of Zanu (PF) and the war vets who unleashed their reign of terror in Mberengwa undertook what they called ‘re-education camps’ where the victims were forced by being assaulted, or with the threat of impending violence, or through intimidation to sing pro-Zanu (PF) songs and slogans. They were also made to march and denounce their membership to opposition parties. Case 6: Letter Mapiye and company met me at Mataga Growth Point and accused me of supporting MDC They forced me to become a Zanu (PF) member and I underwent what they called a 're-education exercise'. They forced me to lie on my stomach and beat me with sticks. They forced me to join their operation and promised to burn my home if I absconded. 6