7 Table 3 Perpetrator Zanu(PF) Zanu(PF) Youth Militia Army Police War veterans Youth militia CIO MDC Unknown Frequency 53% 26% 10% 6% 18% 16% 3% 6% 0 7% Effects of torture As has been continuously demonstrated in studies of torture, the most persistent long term consequence of torture is psychological disorder, and high rates of psychological disorder were seen in this sample. 71% had scores on the SRQ-8 that indicated clinically significant psychological disorder.16 Thus, it is unsurprising that 53% of the sample was referred to a psychiatrist as their presenting complaints warranted further professional intervention, with 15% being placed on psychotropic medication, and 48% being referred for professional counselling. 35% were referred to medical specialists from conditions related to their previous ill-treatment, and this was for a wide variety of medical conditions. These referrals ranged from those who required orthopaedic surgery through to those who were suffering from HIV [4%]. 24% required immediate assistance in the form of food relief, whilst 11% required assistance with shelter. Although the sample reported a history of organized violence that provided prima facie grounds for being granted asylum, only 36% had received a Section 22 status, and, distressingly, only 2% had been granted refugee status. So this general overview indicated that Zimbabwean women frequently experienced organized violence and torture, with much higher rates of rape reported than previously. Additionally, there were very high rates of psychological disorder reported, with most requiring specialist psychiatric intervention. Analysis of findings The findings were then examined for a number of factors related to women that have been shown in the research of organized violence and torture, as well as number of factors that have been shown to be important in Zimbabwean human rights reports. As was pointed out earlier, these were not explicitly examined in the previous ZTVP report. 17 Here only statistically significant findings are highlighted. 16 17 As part of the clinical assessment of its clients, the ZTVP administers a Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ8), a widelyused psychiatric screening instrument developed in Zimbabwe, which investigates 8 common symptoms in the past week. The SRQ8 was derived from the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) developed by the World Health Organization in 1980 to provide an instrument for reliably detecting non-psychotic mental disorders and used widely in Africa as well as in other developing countries. All scores of 4 or higher can be taken to be indicative of significant psychological disorder and in need of immediate assistance. See again ZTVP(2006), Over our dead bodies! A story of survival. A report by the Zimbabwe Torture Victims/Survivors Project. February 2005 – April 2006. JOHANNESBURG: CENTRE FOR STUDY OF VIOLENCE AND RECONCILIATION.

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