The report was based on testimony gathered from more than 1000 people over a five-year period. The commission focused its investigation on two case-study areas, the Tsholotsho and Nyamandlovu districts in Matabeleland North and Matobo in Matabeleland South. The report offered a chilling recitation of atrocities, describing how villagers would be assembled at a central point — such as a school, or borehole — harangued and subjected to mass beatings which were often followed by killings of those whose names were read from death lists. Several viewpoints were reflected. The Government sought to suggest that dissidents were actively sponsored by ZAPU leaders who were hoping to gain through renewed fighting what they had failed to gain in elections. ZAPU’s view was that the heavy-handed Government reaction to the dissident issue, and its targeting of ZAPU as solely responsible, expressed a long-held desire to punish ZAPU and create a one-party state. The South African-sponsored Super-ZAPU was seen as designed to disrupt the newly independent state. And the dissidents' view was that they had been driven to desert the army by persecution of ex-ZIPRA members, finding themselves further persecuted once outside the army and on the run. The publication of the report produced no official Government response, and even led to conflict between the two organisations that produced the report. In August 1997, the Catholic Bishops Conference abruptly terminated the partnership between the commission and the Legal Resources Foundation. The bishops were upset by publication of the report before the President had responded to it, but it should be noted that there has still been no response up to March 1999. Demonstration Against Tax Increases (9 December 1997) As can be seen from all of the above, there was a deteriorating political and economic climate during 1997, and many observers were calling for urgent action by the Government to avoid social unrest and violence. Human rights groups, in particular, made appeals to the President and the Government to take proactive steps to maintain peace and security. Here one of the most clear indications of the seriousness of the situation, and the unconcern by Government resulted in the demonstrations that took place on 9 December 1997. Throughout the country workers responded to calls by the ZCTU to engage in a peaceful protest against tax and price increases. In Harare, trouble began in the early morning rush hour as armed riot police blocked all major roads leading into the city. The police stopped cars and buses, ordering passengers to return home and clubbing those who refused to do so. Just before 8 am, all commuter omnibuses and public transport ferrying workers from the southern high-density suburbs of Mbare, Highfield, Glen View, Glen Norah, Budiriro, among others, were ordered back by the police. Roads leading into the city from the northern suburbs also met the same fate. Policemen manning the roadblocks were in an uncompromising mood, telling workers in no uncertain terms they were not to proceed into town. But some people managed to sneak into the city centre, many having to walk long distances. The workers wanted to congregate at Africa Unity Square, venue of several mass protests in recent years. Police descended on about 500 or so workers who had slipped through the roadblocks and assembled at the square. They were teargassed without any questions being asked. As many of them fled in all directions and back home, workers in offices had to leave hurriedly as the biting teargas smoke filled their offices. At this point police were clubbing any individual or groups of people in the vicinity of Africa Unity Square. Some reporters and photographers were also assaulted. Tired of being teargassed, some groups of people began to pull down road signs and used garbage cans to block roads as the police vigorously pursued their efforts to drive the protesters to the outskirts of Harare. As emotions reached fever pitch much later in the day, hooligans joined in the fray and many buses and private cars were stoned, shops broken into and looted and many people assaulted by the gangs. As Harare licked its wounds and counted the cost of the street battles, human rights bodies unanimously condemned the high-handedness of the police and said their action signalled a breakdown of law and order.