8 Type of assault witnessed Slapping, kicking or punching Blows with rifle butt, sticks, whips or irons Hanging or suspension Prolonged standing or crouching Submarine, immersion, asphyxiation, strangling Burning Electrical shocks Rape/sexual abuse 4.3.2 Number 68 90 Percentage 49% 65% 15 32 14 11% 23% 10% 9 1 19 6% 1% 14% Cases where the person has witnessed executions: 46 (33%) Two deaths were reported by this sample, and, as can be seen from the table below, a significant percentage reported witnessing the beating to death of a farm worker by a soldier, whilst a smaller percentage reported seeing the shooting of a policeman. This latter incident was widely reported in 2000. It is unclear whether the other categories relate to these incidents, or other unreported deaths. Type of executions Beating Shooting Stabbing/cutting Hanging, strangling Burning 5. Number 36 13 3 8 4 Percentage 26% 9% 2% 6% 3% SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND RESPONSIBILITY This section deals with the affiliations of the sample. Clearly any political affiliation has been highly problematic in the past two years, and there have numerous public accusations that commercial farmers and commercial farm workers. Thus, it was important to examine to what extent this accusation is accurate, although it is clear that political affiliation to any political party in a constitutional right and certainly no justification for persecution or torture. There were 66 cases, or 47%, where the person was a supporter, or member of an organisation that became persecuted. 57 cases, or 41%, described themselves as active supporters or members of a political organisation. A further 9 cases, or 6%, described themselves as members of a religious group. Of the 57 people who supported a political organisation, 41 (72%) did not state their political affiliation, 11 (19%) were Zanu(PF) and 5 (9%) were MDC. Clearly the sample were fearful of describing their political affiliation. 6. VIOLENCE ANALYSIS: This section is based upon the narrative histories or organised violence and torture given by the interviewees during the general interview. The farm workers in the pre-election period were forced to attend all night rallies held by the ‘war veterans’ and Zanu(PF) supporters. At these rallies, the people were forced to stand for long periods of time, in cold temperatures and rain, and were forced to chant Zanu(PF) slogans and dance. Those who did not comply were beaten or forced to behave in a degrading and humiliating manner, an example of this being men forced into sexual acts with each other or forced to imitate sexual acts with the ground, whilst their wives were forced to watch. The farm workers were prevented from sleeping, deprived of food and water for long periods of time, and faced a barrage of accusations concerning their supposed support for the MDC. Specific forms of assault mentioned by the farm workers included being pricked with forks, having crushing pressure applied to their genitals, and being forced to stand upside down AMANI TRUST: Preliminary Report of a Survey on Internally Displaced Persons from Commercial Farms in Zimbabwe.

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