Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum Teaching them a lesson: A report on the attack on Zimbabwean teachers Mberengwa East 21 December 2001 TH was allegedly abducted at midnight by a large number of Zanu PF youths. The victim and a friend, DT, were coming from Mataga Growth Point with the intent of making final wedding preparations. As they approached Mundi Bridge they met the youths who demanded that they stop. They asked them to produce Zanu PF cards, searched them and used TH's belt to tie his hands. They were taken to their base at Chingoma Secondary School where they were questioned. They vowed that DT who was supposed to get married the next day would not do so. TH failed to answer several of the questions that they asked and was slapped for this. They were then taken to an empty water tank and tortured. TH sustained chest injuries and bruises on back. They managed to sneak out of the school when their friends arrived and chased the assailants away. The following morning the victims were dumbfounded to find that the police were filing charges of public violence against them. They were taken into custody and spent the next 6 days in the police cells under terrible conditions. TH developed heat rash due to poor ventilation in the cells. Mberengwa West October 2001 Pupils of Vutika High School preparing for “O” and “A” level examinations were allegedly forced to attend ‘pungwes’ and undergo political ‘re-education’ conducted by “war veterans” and Zanu PF supporters. Teachers Gumbo, Marufu and V. Moyo and Hove the Headmaster, were victimised and had their property destroyed. After the incident they fled from the school. The perpetrators include Walter Mucheregwa (ZNLWVA, teacher), Divine Chitoro and Nyasha Koke. March 2002 “War veterans” and Zanu PF supporters allegedly accused Kudawashe Matsheza and Johnson Zhou of supporting MDC. The two were assaulted and threatened on the basis of these accusations. They then fled the area. Mkoba January 2002 - 23 February 2002 “War veterans” allegedly attacked SG because he assisted his brother in running as the MDC candidate for the Gutu North Parliamentary seat in June 2000. He applied for a letter of transfer from the Ministry of Education. His brother was running for the Gutu North Parliamentary seat in 2000. The victim returned to the school on the 9 th of February but the situation was tense so he went away. When he went back the “war veterans” threatened him again and he had to leave on the day in question. SG has not been able to go back to work and payment of his salary has been ceased. The Ministry of Education has said that they will facilitate a transfer for him. Zimta is also assisting with the application for transfer. 12