Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum: Report on political violence in Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands period they were interrogated and viciously beaten up. After they were released Finos died and the other brother had to be rushed to hospital for treatment for serious injuries including a broken leg. Also on 9 June in Mberengwa a Zanu (PF) died after being stabbed by an MDC member. The police say that the Zanu (PF) man was drinking beer at a business centre when a suspected MDC supporter ordered him to take off his Zanu (PF) T-shirt, saying it was out of place, This resulted in an altercation between the two. It is alleged that the MDC supporter pulled out a knife and stabbed the Zanu (PF) supporter in the chest and the victim died before he could be taken to hospital. Rapes On June 3 the MDC reported in the Mutaga area there had been nine reports of war veterans raping women. In one instance seven men claiming to be Zanu-PF supporters attacked the wife of a senior MDC official in her bedroom to “punish her for selling MDC cards” She was held down at each arm and each leg by four men, a fifth man sat on her neck and pummelled her while they took turns beating her and her husband claims she was raped. They beat her so severely that she can barely walk and her skin is navy with bruises. Sekai Holland, the MDC candidate for the area says: “the woman now walks around telling people she is no longer a person.” It is alleged that when the woman’s husband went to report the rape to the police they told him they had no time to help him. It is further alleged that the attackers later beat him up with rocks and when he reported to this to the police they said they could not assist. A few days later this man was taken off a bus and savagely beaten. Violence against teachers and nurses In Mberengwa about 30 people Zanu (PF) supporters harassed teachers at Mnene primary and secondary schools and abducted a temporary teacher. 1 June, Mberengwa Seven schools in Mberengwa have been closed after suspected war veterans and Zanu (PF) militants launched a terror crusade at Matanga Growth Point and surrounding areas last Sunday. Scores of teachers were beaten up and fled for their safety. The militants first broke into an MDC office and confiscated a supporter’s register which they later used to identify teachers and villagers as MDC supporters. On 1 June in Mberengwa West A group of war veterans forced at least two teachers at Ruvabku to go and victimize Nkomo, a teacher who had to flee from Chegato Primary School several teachers were singled out by war veterans suspected of being MDC supporters. At Maringambizi Secondary School war veterans descended on the female head and threatened two teachers before setting the school library on fire, which partly burnt. 1 June, Mnene A nurse at Mnene Hospital and a teacher at a primary school are reported to have been beaten up with electrical cords and sticks threatened to be killed, stripped naked, forced to climb trees and jump from three meters, then frogmarched to Texas Farm where war veterans camp, serving as a self-styled reeducation camp. The Lutheran Church issued a press release on the issue. Violence against opposition party office bearers and supporters The violence against members of the opposition started to intensify towards the end of May. One area that has been very badly affected are Mberengwa and Gokwe. These are a selection of statements taken from victims: Case 1 – Area: Mberengwa A female MDC member relates how on 6 March about 20 Zanu (PF) members assaulted her and three other women. She was assaulted with a crowbar. One of the assailants whom she knows said: “I know you are members of MDC who want to disrupt Mberengwa. If we target you first then others won’t join the party.” She filed a report with the police after the incident. The on 28 May 14