53 Amani Trust case number 743 Report number Sex male 29 Name P.C Age 22 ID number Province Harare District Harare Political Affiliation Date of report 21/02/02 Nature of incident Assault Date of incident 19/02/02 Employment Student Perpetrators Zanu Pf supporters and ‘war veterans’ Case history On 19/02/02, P.C. and a driver went to Cranborne, Harare, to distribute ZESN and Zimbabwe Christian Students pamphlets on voter education. Upon arrival, they were intercepted by a group of Zanu PF supporters and ‘war veterans’. They were asked what they were distributing and were accused of distributing MDC pamphlets. Both men were punched and kicked all over the body and were beaten with sticks, especially under the soles of their feet. The men were ordered to beat each other up with sticks and were made to crawl in the tarmac road. After an hour P.C. and his companion were rescued by two soldiers who took them away for questioning. After being checked for any criminal conduct by an officer from Braeside Police Station, P.C. and his companion were released into the care of a representative from the Students Christian Movement and were taken to hospital for treatment. Medical assessment SRQ-8 Score: 0 On clinical examination shortly after the incident the patient had extensive bruising and soft tissue swelling of his face. Xray of the facial bones showed no fractures. He also had 3 linear bruising across the back, consistent with being whipped, and soft tissue swelling of the buttocks with some bruising. He also had tender plantar surfaces of the feet secondary to falanga, and had difficulty walking. He required analgesia and physiotherapy. AMANI TRUST: Beating your opposition. Torture during the 2002 Presidential campaign in Zimbabwe.