9 whilst being beaten. They were also beaten with sjamboks, sticks, chains, and were beaten under the soles of their feet (falanga). One farm worker tells of being forced to drink water that had been mixed with diesel petrol. Farm workers were singled out and underwent simulated executions, where they were hung from trees or had guns pressed to their forehead. The night before voting opened in the 2002 Presidential elections, the workers were forced to attend one of these all night rallies – pungwes – and were “taught” how they should cast their vote. Of the 139 people interviewed, 65% said that they had a previous experience of OVT. The perpetrators of the OVT in every case was listed as either “war veterans” of Zanu(PF) supporters. For the past two years, as well facing extreme levels of OVT, individuals on farms also witnessed many incidents of harassement, torture, and even executions. They reported seeing a policeman executed by ‘war veterans’ in June 2000 on Chipesa Farm and being forced to bury the body on the farm. In some instances, police complicity in the violence was mentioned, in that they did not protect the farm workers and even went as far to have a role to play in the violence. A farm worker tells of watching a soldier beat a man to death around the head with gun until he died. In one case, a man said he saw a school-boy executed by the ‘war veterans’ for questioning their activities. A farm have seen a record of deteriorating human rights, and the consequent social turmoil has led to an increasing number of internally displaced people in the country. Violence against the major opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has b These accusations and verbal abuse pertained in the main to alleged support for the MDC. The workers were told that the farm owners were MDC supporters and by continuing to live and work on the farms, they were also involved. lly displaced people in the country. Violence against the major opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has b These accusations and verbal abuse pertained in the main to alleged support for the MDC. The workers were told that the farm owners were MDC supporters and by continuing to live and work on the farms, they were also involved. ly displaced people in the country. Violence against the major opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has b These accusations and verbal abuse pertained in the main to alleged support for the MDC. The workers were told that the farm owners were MDC supporters and by continuing to live and work on the farms, they were also involved. The farm workers had in total 865 children in the families. Of this number, there were 527 children listed as living on the farms. The survey revealed that 55% of the adults questioned said that incidents of violence had been witnessed by the children. The psychological damage already experienced by this vulnerable group has only been exacerbated by losing their homes, possessions and chance of an education. In many cases they have been also separated from their families. The actual point at which the farm workers were forced off the farms were characterised by physical assaults, such as the case of the tractor driver who was stoned or the farm worker who was beaten attempting to resist the actions of the ‘war veterans’ and the Zanu(PF) youths, as well as psychological trauma. The intimidation felt by the workers, as they were given 20 minutes to pack up their lives or face more violence and death, was the end of a cycle lasting for months, and the beginning of one of insecurity as an internally displaced person. 6. MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS: The medical data reported below is based on self-report, but will be corroborated in due course by medical examination. The medical evidence is in the process of being compiled, and will be included the more detailed report. 6.1 Mental health As indicated above, psychological disorder is the most common short-term and long-term effect of torture, whether the torture is physical or merely psychological. 81% reported scores AMANI TRUST: Preliminary Report of a Survey on Internally Displaced Persons from Commercial Farms in Zimbabwe.