7 4.2.3 Sensory over-stimulation Sensory overstimulation seems to be more frequently reported than in previous studies. It is clear that the high report relates to organised violence at “pungwes” or other forced meetings, or is seen as the concomitant of the displacement process which was clearly traumatic as seen from the history above (also see Section 6 below). Type of sensory over-stimulation Constant noises Screams and voices Powerful lights Constant lighting Special devices Drugs 4.2.4 Number 61 76 5 3 4 0 Percentage 44% 55% 4% 2% 3% 0% Psychological torture and ill-treatment Psychological torture is frequently underestimated, both in the frequency of its occurrence and in its effects. Here it needs to strongly stressed that the most serious long-term consequence of OVT is psychological disorder. Many studies, including those from Zimbabwe, have established very high rates of psychological disorder following torture. Most commonly reported are high rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but other forms of disorder, such as depression, are also commonly seen. In terms of the frequency of psychological torture, it is important to recognise that this can be both a form of torture on its own, which is highly damaging, but also a nearly always present during physical torture. It is also important to note that the witnessing of torture, especially when the victim is forced to be present when a loved one or familiar is tortured, is equally damaging. Here the findings under the introduction to Section 4 should be noted. Type of psychological torture and ill-treatment Verbal abuse Threats against person False accusations Abuse with excrement Sexual abuse (without violence) Menaces against own life and family Simulated execution Number Percentage 118 114 115 38 20 70 24 85% 82% 83% 27% 14% 50% 17% As is seen from the table above, very high rates of psychological torture are reported by the sample, with high percentages for nearly all categories of psychological torture. 4.3 Witnessing violence, ill-treatment or torture As mentioned in Section (4.2.4), witnessing of OVT should note be underestimated, either for its occurrence or its effects. 4.3.1 Cases where the person has witnessed assaults: 109 (78%) As can be seen from the table below, the pattern of witnessing assaults bears a strong correspondence to the pattern reported for assaults themselves. The witnessing of Beatings are most commonly reported, but, interestingly, the witnessing of rape is 5 times more common than the experience. Rape is generally under-reported, and follow-up on the cases reported above will allow us to understand whether this high percentage of witnessing of rape represents an under-reporting of rape or is due to the rapes occurring publicly. Public rape has been reported in other Zimbabwean cases as a form of torture. AMANI TRUST: Preliminary Report of a Survey on Internally Displaced Persons from Commercial Farms in Zimbabwe.