purports to know for the people of Zimbabwe rather than the people of Zimbabwe to know for themselves…. We can’t be forced to do what we don’t want to do. We can’t be forced to vote for hungry (sic). We can’t be forced to vote for poverty. We can’t be forced to vote for terrorists like this…. [interview 23 April, Shamva] 2. Teachers In the current database, there are 14 teachers, whose testimonies bear witness to the cruel treatment meted out to those perceived to support the opposition. • 4 of the teachers were tortured • 4 were assaulted with fists, feet and weapons • 3 suffered property loss • All 14 were intimidated and threatened, leading to their displacement. School teachers, who were the backbone of the recent elections in terms of performing key functions for ZEC in most polling stations around the country, have been targeted countrywide. One of the school teachers’ unions recently outlined the numbers of teachers targeted, claiming that hundreds of teachers have been assaulted, lost property or fled their homes after threats. The setting up of war veteran bases nationwide, very often in close proximity to, or in the grounds of schools, is clearly part of this policy of striking fear into the hearts of teachers. Government officials have indicated that they will not employ teachers as election officials in any run off, but are already canvassing other branches of the civil service, including signing up dip tank officials and other people from AREX (Agricultural Extension office). 79 I am a teacher in Mhondoro Ngezi, this problem started during the election campaign when they started saying that the teachers are MDC, we don’t know why. I associate a lot with the youth who support the MDC they are children who I taught. I started teaching in 1991. So when these youths are in the area they come to me as their former teacher. So this upset the war vets and they said it was me who influenced these youths to support the MDC. So they were always accusing me of being MDC right up until the voting day when they wouldn’t let us be polling agents because they said that all the teachers were MDC. They came to BM’s house and gave him his notice which expired on Tuesday and they also told him to pass the same message to all the teachers. I decided I wouldn’t go anywhere until they came and told me to go. On Saturday I left my home and went back to school and on Sunday early in the morning my neighbour phoned me and said all of your huts have been burnt. They burnt my home just after I left with my children. [interview, 22 April 2008] 3. Caught in the crossfire Pre-election, 9% of victims were of unclear affiliation. Post election, this has almost doubled to 17%, as families and communities are subject to blanket punishments, or are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, as is evident from the following example: LM, a cross border trader from Bulawayo, went to Chipinge to sell second hand clothes on 20 April. She is not a political activist of any kind. Unfortunately, as the train arrived at the station, she and her friend saw 200 ZANU PF youth, who accosted them as they reached the platform. They were ordered to say where they were from, and when they said Bulawayo, they were 79 A recent interview by the authors with an AREX official employed in Bulawayo explained that on 8 May, two men believed to be from the CIO arrived with a full record of all employees and demanded confirmation that these people were still on the staff. Within a day of this, four staff on the list were visited at home and asked questions about their political affiliation and who they voted for in the last election. This was very intimidating, but the AREX official believes people are being pre-screened for their political beliefs before being offered a job with ZEC in a run off. 43