Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum: Report on political violence in Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands included: Mr Mombe, a teacher from the neighbouring school (St Paul’s), who has been involved in acts of violence for a long time and was active in disturbances in 1985; Bob Matsvimbo is said to have been present; Mr Madharani of Samambwa School; Engineer Mackenzie (Ncube?) Mackenzie’s truck was involved in the attack (identified by villagers). Sithole is a major in the army Various other Zanu (PF) officials at the district level (in Kwekwe) were involved in training and planning. Some of the people who attacked were ferried from Kwekwe to Zvombe in trucks. There were 2 vehicles (pickups), and about 20 people, who arrived at the same time at the primary school. The main reason for the attack is that they thought the victim was trained by the NDI and involved in the training of polling monitors. Case 3 – Area: Mberengwa (This incident occurred in May) I had gone to see my brother. I started to go to the Post Office. A man from Zanu (PF) near the post office told me to stop. He came and told me to show them my Zanu (PF) card. I said I left it at home. Then I saw there were around 400 of the Zanu (PF) supporters around, the majority of them wearing Zanu (PF) T-shirts. One of them I knew, a man who charges batteries at Mutskanane, 6 kilometres away. I greeted him. Nobody knew me in Mataga except this guy.They said “Rufaro, you are MDC”. I pushed into the post office and the workers shut the door. I ran behind the counter, where they kept the money, but 3 Zanu (PF) members came in from the back. They beat me and cut me with axes. It lasted about 6 minutes. Then police from Gweru intervened, threw a tear gas canister, and took me into their car. They caught one person, and I made a report with Mataga police.I was taken to Musumi hospital after 12 in the afternoon – I had been beaten with axes, and my hands were swollen and my head hurt. (Medical report shown - according to the report, he sustained injuries to the parietal region, and required dressings, which were still worn at the time of the interview). Case 4- Area: Mberengwa I am an ordinary youth member for MDC based at Mataga growth point. On 29 May 2000 at around 4.00 pm whilst we were at our shop, more than fifty armed Zanu (PF) supporters came chanting and shouting slogans. They demanded MDC T-Shirts and party cards. They started stoning us and destroyed our grinder and drilling machine. The police then came and dispersed them and took us to Mataga police station. They could not evacuate them from the growth point. Our whole family of five put up at the station for three nights. Again on 3 June around 9.00 pm they also came at our homestead and our homestead and burnt our granary and we lost all the property. The group was being led by Patrick Masonda, Langton Mangena, Tawona Siziba, Big Chitoro and another teacher at Zvishava primary known as Shiri. They also set fire on our clothes. On 4 June around 5.00 am they also came singing, assaulting our father who was forcefully took away our MDC cards and took us to a nearby bush and assaulted us with sticks and anything they could come across. I could not identify any of our assailants but were being sent to harass us by Big Chitoro’s group. We were told not to report the matter or seek medication. When we returned all our clothing had been stolen from thereon they were threatening us day in day out and said that they did not want to see any MDC member at Mataga. Currently I am having problems with my back because of the matter but no action was taken. Case 5- Area: Mberengwa I am an ordinary MDC member based at Utsanana Business Centre. It was on 4 June 2000 around 7.00 pm when a group of about twenty Zanu (PF) supporters came to my place demanding my MDC membership card and demanded me to chant their slogan. They were being led by Judson Hove, Hlazo Moyo a headmaster. I managed to escape and footed all night and then hitchhiked to Zvishavane then Bulawayo. When I left they assaulted my wife and took away our membership card. They took her to a nearby township where they forced her to buy a Zanu (PF) card together with one of my sons. When she came back she discovered that four of her pots were missing and seven blankets. I reported the matter at Bulawayo central police station but no action has been taken. I then went and stayed with my brother. I managed to go back and vote but not in our area. After elections on Friday 7 June Judson and his young brothers came threatening to burn my whole homestead. I did not report the threats to the police. Case 6 - Area: Mberengwa I am the youth secretary for MDC based at Chingoma (Mataga). On the 24 May at around 8.00 pm several Zanu (PF) supporters came to my homestead and demanded to see me. They started assaulting me with sticks. The group was being led by one Langton Mangena, Festo Jamela (war veteran), Endsen Dube Chilami, Davison Chipenyu, Clifford Donsa and others. Previously they had held a rally in the neighbourhood and had been influenced by one Elia Dube who had told the gathering that our whole family belongs to MDC. They then took clothing including my children’s one mattress and burnt them. Also taken away was my bicycle and $3000.00 cash and ordered me 16