Figure 3
Distribution of alleged violations, March to May 2008
[n=610]
The violations involving property destruction deserve some further comment. Firstly, those persons
that reported property destruction also reported significantly higher numbers of total violations; that
is, property destruction was associated with more frequent reports of all other violations. 31 Secondly,
property destruction was significantly correlated with thefts and eventual displacement. 32 Thirdly,
property destruction was significantly correlated with the reports of ZANU PF Youth as the
perpetrators.33 The pattern was alarmingly similar all across the country, which strongly supports the
notion of an organized campaign; in another historical period, it would be termed a “pogrom”. The
following cases are typical:
Case 1 [Mashonaland Central]:
I had gone to the Zanu PF base as I had been called to come and
surrender being MDC. When I got to the base I was told to surrender
but then answered saying why now since they were the ones who told
us to come open and vote for whom we wanted. I was then pushed to
the ground and was started to be hit by sticks under my feet and also
hit at my back. I was then told to eat sand, but I pretended as if I was
eating it. We were then poured water onto our bodies. At the time I was
unconscious. I then woke up and we were told to go back to our homes
and I crawled to the road. Then somebody came to carry us using
31
32
33
Property destruction reported vs no property destruction: Total number of violations [p=0.0001]; total torture reported
[p=0.02].
Property destruction & Theft [0.99; p=0.001]; Property destruction & displacement [0.44; p=0.001].
Property destruction & ZANU PF Youth [0.11; p=0.01].
Select target paragraph3
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