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SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE
quelae were found in studies of the Gukurahundi period of the 1980s in Matabeleland.4
Here it was found that more than 80% of
the sample reported torture, and the prevalence rate for consequent psychological disorder was 50% of all adults over 18 years.
Subsequently, there was a long period
– from 1987 to 1998 – where there was
little or no gross human rights violations
reported. However, organized violence, torture, and intimidation were seen during the
periods leading up to important political
events such as elections. There is a strong
correlation between reports on the patterns
of violence in Zimbabwe that records of torture and other forms of organized violence
and the lead up to elections. In June 2000,
parliamentary elections were held and the
period leading to the elections was marred
by physical violence and political intimidation by the government sponsored war veterans against anyone who was perceived to
be the opposition. Despite these drawbacks
the MDC won nearly half the seats in parliament.5 Since the 2002 Presidential election,
there has been no appreciable improvement
in the human rights climate during elections.6
During the period from July 2001 to
August 2008, the Human Rights Forum
reported 4,765 allegations of torture. The
Forum also recorded, during this period,
over 39,000 violations. There has been a
steady increase in violations from 2006, with
it being apparent that 2008 may well be the
worst year for human rights violations, and
possibly torture as well, since 2000.
These figures are a clear under-estimation of the incidence and prevalence of
torture by an unknown order of magnitude,
and an accurate assessment of the likely
need can only come from a communitybased study. Thus, it is difficult to posit
the need for rehabilitation services for the
survivors of torture as well. But what does
seem evident is that there are likely to be
very large numbers of survivors both requiring medical and, particularly, psychological
assistance.7
Psychological assistance to torture survivors
The treatment and management of torture
Table 1. Numbers of human rights violations reported to the Human Rights Forum, July 2001 to October
2007.
Total
Monthly average:
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
116
670
0
0
0
0
0
12
34
194
356
0
0
903
223
274
86
2
12
28
11
39
61
388
807
7
45
1172
52
627
388
10
80
4
208
809
10
450
153
6
1
497
62
389
401
10
35
0
189
760
3
514
132
3
0
389
18
1286
530
1
9
0
609
1036
4
476
61
4
0
136
11
2611
486
3
7
0
55
1866
2
288
55
1
0
366
19
2766
865
0
7
0
0
3500
3
980
16
0
0
603
117
430
1723
8
47
0
627
2161
107
2379
381
6
26
699
2285
381
3155
263
3295
275
2887
241
4170
348
5751
479
8759
730
8711
1089
T O R T U R E Vol um e 19 , N um b er 3 , 2 00 9
Abduction
Arrest & detention
Assault
Attempted murder
Death threats
Disappearance
Displacement
Freedoms
Murder
Political discrimination
Property violation
Rape
School closure
Torture