Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum: Report on political violence in Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands Case 13: Mabvuku On 20 June, the complainant was amongst the Election Monitoring Team that left Harare in 4 Combi minibuses. However, he was left behind on the 26 June when the team departed for Harare. He was assaulted by 10 Zanu (PF) youths, who said, “Ndima vanhu vaTsvangirai tinoda kukuuraya”. They assaulted him with knobkerries, some hard objects, clenched fists, open hands and booted feet. After some time the complainant managed to escape into the bush. He lost all the belongings that he had in his bag – 2 torches, 3 jackets, 1 jersey, 1 Zambia (cotton cloth), 2 blankets and the bag itself). The property was valued at about $7500. He also sustained multiple injuries, and appears to have lost his memory. His eyes were red an painful at the time of interview. Case 14: Epworth On 20 June on or about 10.00 pm a man and his wife were assaulted by a group of Zanu (PF) supporters. The following are the details of the attack. The complaints were sleeping when they heard loud noises outside their house. Distinctly they heard the following words, “Tasvika pamba penhunzvatunzva dze MDC”. Without warning the door to their house was forced open. A group of about 100 or so gathered outside the house. Some men wearing Zanu (PF) T- shirts demanded Zanu (PF) party cards from the complainants. They failed to produce the cards and they were subjected to severe beating. They were attacked with open hands, clenched fists, booted feet, sticks and baton sticks. The two sustained multiple injuries including head injuries. All their household goods and effects were either destroyed or unlawfully removed from the house. At about 11.00 pm the complainants reported the attack at Hatfield Police Base. Mr Mashiri attended to them. They were referred to Parirenyatwa hospital for medical treatment. Gabriel has not fully recovered from the attack. He is experiencing severe pain in the back and as a result he has failed to report for work. Eunice has partially lost sight in the right eye. Other than the fact that they are Zanu (PF), the assailants are unknown to the complainants. Case 14: Mabvuku I am the MDC district secretary, organizer for Highfield. On 21 May, at around 7.00 pm while we were guarding our aspiring MP’s house in Mabvuku, the police came and rounded us up. We were 12 in number, they arrived in a police vehicle. They took six of us initially, and another two later (four managed to escape). They took us to Mabvuku Police Station and beat us all over our bodies until 10 pm. I was assaulted with sjamboks, baton sticks and electric cables. They beat me all over, including on the feet (falanga) continuously. They then took us to the cells. The officer in charge, Mabvuku also joined in the assault, using an electric cable. I suffered injuries all over the body, including the head. I can identify some of the officers who assaulted me, although not by name. The following day we were taken to Harare Central Police Station, where statements were taken from us. They alleged that we had assaulted a person that is unknown to me. We were taken for an identification parade, where the person could easily pick on us because of the dirty attire which we had. The other people were all dressed in clean clothes. On 26 May, we were remanded in custody until the 26 June. Bail was granted ($1000 per head). I still feel pain in the head, back and legs because of the assaults. I told the magistrate that I was assaulted, but nothing was written down. Case 15: Chitungwiza On 1 June I was campaigning on Derbyshire Farm, near Chitungwiza, at around 3.00 pm. I had an entourage of 36 people, and there were about 120-150 people attending the meeting. While I was addressing the people, a Mazda pick-up, white in colour, came up, bearing 15 to 17 people wearing Zanu (PF) T-shirts. I know some of them: Ali Majengwa. Edmore Tinaruro, Miriam, Jahannes, Mudhuwiwa, Stanley, “Rasta”, Paddington Nyama, George Tsvuura, and several others. They were wielding sjamboks, iron bars, bicycle chains and knobkerries. Since my people were not armed, I advised them to flee for their lives. The Zanu (PF) people started attacking everyone who was present at the rally. I ran away. It’s a rocky area, and many people fell down, injuring themselves. The Zanu (PF) supporters caught up with me, whilst shouting, “We want Musasiwa!” Ali Mangwenya pushed me over a cliff. I fell a distance of about 6metres into the dip and injured my left leg on the shin. I crawled for about 40 to 50 minutes, trying to get away form the assailants (they did not know that I was Musasiwa). I managed to reach the Seke road , and hired a lift to Chitungwiza Police Station, where I made a report. They took me to the site, together with some police from Waterfalls Police Station, who had been phoned by the Chitungwiza guys. We arrived to find that the tyres on my car had been deflated, and some of the property and parts of the car had been stolen. The damage to the car comes to about $10 000, and the spare wheel, jack, wheel spanner and my jacket were also stolen. There was a sum of about $38 000 stolen in cask as well. A report was compiled by the Waterfalls Police, and I was told to go. The police are now claiming that they have lost the docket. I have fled 33