18 considerable delays, while transport was arranged, and messages sent requesting help. (Many of the victims and their families were and are unable to move freely within their communities.) Therefore a network of health services was set up throughout the country so that victims were able to receive medical attention within a shorter period of time. This also meant that the injuries were seen and documented by medical personnel while still fresh, and therefore more accurate reports could be recorded. Many patients also required physiotherapy. Amani established a dedicated physiotherapy service, using physiotherapists with specific training in treating and rehabilitating injuries peculiar to torture such as falanga. Other physiotherapists were also utilized when patients required a more specific therapy as requested by the treating surgeons. While the patients were undergoing treatment, they were provided with accommodation and transport to and from appointments, as the majority of the patients were from centers outside Harare. Counselling for patients was provided on different levels. The initial interview and documentation of injuries marked the start of therapy, and initial assessment of the patient’s mental state. From this assessment, the patient was either referred for counseling by appropriately trained trauma counsellors, or to a psychiatrist, for neuro-psychiatric assessment and treatment. A pilot study was conducted by a group of clinical psychologists, to establish the specific needs of victims of organized torture and violence, and a comprehensive programme to develop counseling services in the affected communities is being established. This is an important component of rehabilitation, because as shown in previous studies by Amani Trust, communities and families that have been subjected to violence, and that have had no access to counseling services and redress, have more social dysfunction, and chronic illness than other communities. With the development of these concurrent comprehensive programmes for victims, it became easier for Amani to reach and treat victims of organized violence, and to monitor the levels and methods of perpetration of violence in the communities. During 2001 reports were released from the Human Rights NGO Forum on a monthly basis, using the data gathered both from Amani Trust and other sources, and tracking all the components of the violence, such as the area, perpetrators, methods of torture used etc. From this information, a number of facts emerged: • • • • It was clear that more systematic forms of torture were being employed; It was clear that there was wide spread geographical spread in the of various forms of torture; It was clear that the perpetrators were increasingly members of the ‘youth militia;’ It was clear that torture was increasingly being inflicted at the ‘bases’ of the youth militia. When the violence first started, most victims were beaten at their homes or local gathering point, but by January 2002, when the violence rose exponentially in anticipation of the presidential elections, nearly 50% of victims gave a story of abduction to a specific ‘base.’ When they were detained for up to ten days and then systematically tortured using well known methods of torture such as whipping, beating, slapping across the ears to rupture the ear drums, falanga, burning, attempted drownings, and sexual assault. It was increasingly disturbing to record the increasing frequency of rape as a method of torture. This was particularly serious in view of the life long implications of HIV infection. There were recorded incidents of the abductees being used as forced labour, and being denied food, shelter and medical attention. Many victims were cautioned against seeking medical help or making a report, and a number of victims were assaulted on more than one occasion. After the results of the presidential elections were announced it was expected that the violence would decrease as had happened after the Parliamentary elections in 2000. Instead the violence AMANI TRUST: Beating your opposition. Torture during the 2002 Presidential campaign in Zimbabwe.