Creation of ‘No-Go’ Areas in Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central........................................................................................39 Arrests, Beatings and Torture of MDC activists in Harare....................................40 Violence, Looting and the Destruction of Homes and Property in Mashonaland, Masvingo and Manicaland ................................................................................46 Attacks by MDC Activists ...................................................................................49 VII. Harassment and Attacks on Civil Society.......................................................... 51 Attacks on Election Observers ........................................................................... 51 Arrests of Journalists, Lawyers and Civil Society Activists...................................52 VIII. Government Response to the Abuses ..............................................................54 Failure of the Police to Prevent Violence ............................................................54 IX. Zimbabwe’s International Human Rights Obligations........................................ 57 X. Impunity and the Need for Accountability...........................................................59 XI. Response of International Actors ..................................................................... 60 SADC and the AU.............................................................................................. 60 Other International Actors ................................................................................. 61