14 As regards the examinations, there was clear evidence of torture in all 5 cases. Several of the examined persons had been tortured more than once, and it appears that the second bout of torture occurs to discourage these victims from giving evidence in the election All the examined persons were currently in enforced hiding because of threats. The types of torture seen were very similar to the torture seen in June 2000. Severe beatings all over, threats (including death threats), threats to give up political beliefs, threats with guns, mock executions, witnessing the torture of other persons, threats to family members, and humiliations. Thus, there were both physical and psychological forms of torture seen again. Some of the victims had required emergency medical treatment, due to the severity of their injuries, or unconsciousness, or both. All showed degrees of physical impairment and psychological disorder. The situation in 2001 is very similar to that seen in 2000 during the previous IRCT mission. It also conforms to the observations made by the Research and Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (RCT) during their mission in January 2001. Thus, it can be concluded that there is persistent torture in Zimbabwe. It is, of course not possible to estimate the extent or the numbers affected, but, given the reports continuously emerging from within Zimbabwe, it is likely that the numbers affected may be very large indeed The IRCT went on the make some even more alarming comment about “mass psychological torture”. Certain remarks should be made about the mass psychological torture. It was observed in June 2000 that this was occurring, and several cases again illustrate this deplorable situation. Forced attendance at political meetings, public humiliation of people for their political beliefs, threats and intimidation of family members, and being forced into hiding due to threats, all are forms of psychological torture. There is persuasive evidence from many sources that this has occurred and still continues to occur. Such torture must be condemned in the strongest possible terms, and the government and political parties must make every effort to put an end to this outrageous human rights violation. 4.3.4 Disappearances: Disappearances are a particularly sinister form of human rights disappearance, because, apart from the obvious distress for the abductee, there is the concern that the abductee’s family will have. In fact, disappearances have become a major form of “community torture”, and have been implicated all over the world and not merely in Matabeleland. The distress that this causes to the families can be even worse than torture, since the family may never see their loved one again and may also never know what happened to that person. The most notorious case in recent Zimbabwe history is that of Mr David Coltart’s election agent, Patrick Nyabanyama, who was disappeared during the 200 election. This case is particularly horrible since the kidnappers are pardoned under the