Ongoing Abuses by ZANU-PF and Government-Backed Militias and “War Veterans” While levels of violence have decreased since the June 27 presidential runoff, Human Rights Watch remains seriously concerned by ongoing rights abuses in some parts of the country. ZANU-PF and its allies continue to use camps and bases to beat and torture perceived MDC activists and supporters. With certain parts of the country such as Mashonaland East, West and Central still not accessible to NGOs and the media, it is likely that the intimidation and violence documented in this report are only a small sample of the actual cases that have occurred. For example, on July 17 a group of ZANU-PF supporters and “war veterans” severely assaulted police officer Kingswell Muteta in Mudzi, Mashonaland East province.6 Muteta was visiting Mudzi to see his mother who had recently been assaulted by the same group of supporters and “war veterans.” The “war veterans” and supporters accused Muteta of visiting MDC supporters and sympathizing with them. They took Muteta to a base in Mudzi called Chimukoko and brutally beat him. Muteta was admitted at Kotwa hospital in Mashonaland East and later transferred to Avenues clinic in Harare where he died on July 25 from injuries sustained during the beating. Four other victims assaulted at the base by the “war veterans” and supporters were hospitalized at a private hospital in Harare and remain in serious condition.7 Local NGOs reported that on July 23, a group of “war veterans” and ZANU-PF supporters abducted MDC activist Fungisai Ziome from her home in Glendale, Mashonaland Central. Her burned and mutilated body was discovered in a maize field three days later.8 Human Rights Watch also received reports that in Buhera South, Manicaland province, an army colonel was patrolling and beating up villagers and preventing 6 Human Rights Watch interview with Ian Kay and Pineal Denga, MDC Executives who interviewed and helped the police officer, Harare, July 28, 2008. 7 Human Rights Watch interview with Ian Kay and Pineal Denga, Harare, July 28, 2008. 8 Human Rights Watch telephone interview with local NGOs, Harare, July 29, 2008. “They Beat Me Like a Dog” 6