Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum: Report on political violence in Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands After the MDC supporters had left the Zanu (PF) youths and war veterans burnt down Guta Steel Work a business enterprise owned by Mr Nkomo. All welding machinery and office equipment in the building was destroyed. The property destroyed is valued at $100 000. No police action has been taken Case 29- Area: Mberengwa On 24 May the complainant was brutally assaulted by 30 Zanu (PF) youths who were armed with chain, sticks, sjamboks and iron bars. The youths also used open hands, clenched fists and booted feet to assault the complainant. He sustained multiple injuries including head injuries. Further was he forced to utter the following derogatory words “Ndiri imbwa yaTsvangirayi”. This incident was witnessed by the police who watched from a safe distance of about 50m. On 31 May the Zanu (PF) youths damaged the complainant’s butchery and grocery shop. Property valued at $100 000 was destroyed. The assailants are known as Masunda, Jamela, Sam Ncube, Taona Dziva, Portia Hove, Mandlovu and P Hungwe. Mr Hove had to flee his home and he says he is afraid to go back Case 30- Area: Mberengwa I am a Zanu (PF) cardholder based at Chingoma 1 in Mberengwa. On 24 May, at around 8:00 pm, a crowd of 56 Zanu (PF) supporters came to my homestead, and 14 of them entered my house. They smashed the door and got in. I grabbed one of them, but they overpowered me and lifted me out of the room. One of them, Clifford Nkomo, tried to strangle me and beat me unconscious. When I regained consciousness, one of them suggested that I be thrown in a dam, but another one refused. The group was being led by Abel Masiya and Masunda Nyoni. I lost my cigarettes and $150 in cash. I was being assaulted because I did not attend one of their rallies (Zanu (PF) when I had gone to attend a funeral. I reported the matter at Mataga and I was referred for medication. I am currently still suffering pain in my ribs. No were made before I went to find out with the police. Then I took them to the houses of those responsible, and several people were arrested. They are currently out on bail. Case 31 – Area: Gokwe A ZUD supporter states that on 13 May he was approached a group of people including the aspiring candidate of Zanu (PF) Nr Mukahla. He says he told them that they wanted to give him a good post in Zanu (PF). He told them he had decided to join ZUD. He says that the person leading the team, a Mr Moyo, said he would be given a car and good salary if he left his opposition party. The statement then goes on as follows: I was to be given a car and a good salary if I was to leave the opposition party so as to accommodate Mr Mukahla to win the post. After this they left. About 10 to 15days later Moyo said if I do not leave the opposition party my life will be sour. On 27 May a group of ZANU surrounded my shop, house, intimidating all opposition parties singing slogans calling out that I will be killed by ZANU. Another man was severely beaten and struck by an iron bar. This was reported to the police but nothing was done. Instead the injured man was locked in by the police. He was never treated. ZUD supporters retaliated and the ZANU youths ran and took refuge in the council premises.20 ZUD supporters locked them in there then reported the matter to the police. The police arrested the ZUD supporters instead of ZANU members who had started with the violence. On return to my house I could not get access to it. I was also told that my shop had been closed on Thursday. I slept in the bush and had to walk 15 to 20km to get a bus to Harare. Case 32 – Area: Kwekwe The complainant is a factory assistant who is an MDC campaign manager. He has suffered intimidation and psychological trauma since the rejection of the draft Constitution. He alleges that Zanu (PF) tried to bribe him into leaving MDC. He was then threatened with death and he was told by an army officer who came to his house that a decision had been made to assassinate him.He was advised not to walk alone. After that date he saw a car parked outside his house with two people in it. His neighbours claimed to have seen guns inside the car. His child was asked whether MDC meetings were being held at his house and informed that the house would be burnt. Sympathetic police officers in the area were transferred therefore the police were too scared to act. He heard that death threats were made against him at a public meeting and the police did not inform him of this. Members of the community at the meeting questioned the death threat so people from outside the community were brought in. The candidate was attacked on his way to work and doused in petrol. There were witnesses to the incident. Four days later at 8.00 pm approximately, three trucks full of people arrived at his doorstep. They entered his home and poured 20 litres of 23