In
15
of
tracks"
on
the
cases
of
soft
the overlying skin.
tissue
This is
injury,
there
a classic
were
sign
documented
of assault
with
"tram
a hard
thin object such as a stick or baton. Three more cases had fractures of the
forearm
The
the
or
hand
patient
left
with
side
space
(right
of
ulna,
fractured
his
right
chest
between
left
radius
ulna
associated
the
and
also
with
two
sustained
a
lungs
ulna,
left
left
fractures
haemothorax
and
metacarpals).
the
of
ribs
on
(blood
in
the
chest
wall).
There have been reports of several deaths but because these do not usually
present
to ZADHR
members,
only
one
case
(of
multiple
stab
wounds to
the
chest and abdomen) can be confirmed. This was a brother of a patient from
Karoi,
previously
ZADHR
remains
authorities
forces
to
are
reported
as
having
deeply
concerned
prevent
further
now
increasingly
been
that
no
violence
involved
admitted
measures
and
in
by
to
are
hospital
being
allegations
assaults
and
in
Harare.
taken
by
that
torture,
the
security
particularly
in Harare.
These
cases
torture,
in
rural
and
suggest
with
areas,
a
more
disturbing
victims
urgent
trend
possibly
action
is
of
systematic
unable
to
required
to
violent
access
assault
and
medical
attention
the
situation
prevent
deteriorating further. It is essential that the United Nations, African Union and SADC take
urgent
and
decisive
steps
to
engage
the
Zimbabwean
authorities and all stakeholders to end this crisis.
ZADHR reiterates its call for an end to violence by all political parties and the security forces.
Violent Assault and Torture Remains Unchecked. 23 April 2008
Further to the two statements ZADHR issued last week we report a further 81 cases of
organised violence and torture which have been seen and treated by members of the
Association in the three days ending Monday 21 April 2008. This is not a cumulative total –
this is the number of cases seen in these 3 days alone. The total number of cases seen since
1 April 2008 is 323. It seems likely that there are substantial numbers of similar cases
occurring across the country which have not presented to ZADHR members and are therefore
not represented in these figures.
15
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