6
As can be seen from the table above, the sample reported a wide variety of occupations
within the commercial farms, but labourers were in the vast majority.
4.2
Experience of violence
A very high percentage (71%) reported an experience of torture or repressive violence, whilst
90 cases, or 65%, had had some experience of torture or repressive violence prior to the
present episode. As was seen from the history reported above, the most recent episode was
associated with their displacement. The sample also reported that many adults in their family
had witnessed their torture. Here, 82 cases, or 59%, had had other adults witness their
torture, and this was usually a spouse. Other family members were also reported as having
experienced violence: 76 cases, or 55%, had a similar experience to the interviewee.
More disturbingly, children were not exempt. The interviewees reported that children in their
families had witnessing the violence in 77 cases, or 55%. The sample reported having a total
of 865 children between them, with 527 children still resident on the farms.
4.2.1
Physical Assaults
As can be seen from the table below, physical assaults was common, with beatings of one
kind or other the most common. This table does not give the frequencies with which the
sample experienced assaults, and this will be given in the fuller report. The frequencies are
important however as these persons reported more than one encounter with organised
violence and torture.
Type of assault
Slapping or kicking or punching
Blows with rifle butts, sticks, whips
or irons
Exposure to extreme cold or heat
Hanging or suspension
Prolonged standing or crouching
Submarine, immersion,
asphyxiation, strangling
Burning
Electrical shocks
Rape
4.2.2
Number
46
58
Percentage
33%
42%
39
10
28
6
28%
7%
20%
4%
5
1
4
4%
1%
3%
Deprivation
The forms of deprivation seen in the table below relate partly to the effects of the
displacement itself, when people were forcibly moved off the farms from which they came.
However, some of the forms of deprivation were experienced at the same time as people
were assaulted or at during the forced attendance at “pungwes” (see Section 6 below).
Type of deprivation
Deprived of food, comfort or
communication
Incommunication, minimal food and
comfort, overcrowding
Lack of water (more than 48 hours)
Immobilization, restraint, total
darkness (more than 48 hours)
Lack of sleep (less than 4 hours
per night) or 5 days or longer
Lack of needed medication or
medical care or more than 48 hours
Number
72
Percentage
52%
53
38%
36
34
26%
24%
52
37%
27
19%
AMANI TRUST: Preliminary Report of a Survey on Internally Displaced Persons from Commercial Farms in
Zimbabwe.