presence in civilian life is unlawful and unconstitutional, never mind their involvement in alleged gross human rights violations. This finding, of the involvement of both state and non-state agents in alleged violations, does not imply that all these separate groups were always present together, but rather that there were significant combinations on a regular basis. For example, the illustrative case below shows the interaction between these various groups. Before the March 29 election, on the 16/03/08, a soldier (NAME PROVIDED) and council candidate Zanu PF (NAME PROVIDED) came to my house and gave me a strong warning to stop campaigning for MDC. They took me to Muzarabani Community Hall and beat me up with metal bars under the feet and on the lower leg. I sustained serious wounds and was treated at St Alberts. They detained me for two days and released me. They would give me water no food. The leg is still painful. I did not stop my campaigns and was a polling agent during the elections. Then the second time, on Sunday 04/05/08, Zanu PF youths came to my house together with senator (NAME PROVIDED) and Mm (NAME PROVIDED), they were so many. I sneaked out of the house and disappeared without them noticing. They knocked on my door and my wife came out. I heard her screaming and being beaten. I could see from a distance. They told my wife that they are looking for me and want to kill me this time. I did not have money to leave home as the money was burnt in the house. On 06/05/08, I went to Muzarabani to look for money and assistance so I could leave as I was fearing for my life. There I saw Mu (NAME PROVIDED), a Zanu PF, who told the youths that X is here. The youths came and apprehended me and then took me to their base. There, I and 8 other MDC supporters were detained and beaten. I was also detained and beaten under feet, on the buttocks and in the palms of our hands. During the periods anybody, i.e. Zanu PF, would call us and beat us. In the morning, everyday around 3am, most of the youths would go and wait for buses coming from further taking any food on the bus claiming that nothing should go to Harare because the people there are MDC. They would go with an MDC youth to help identify the other MDC youths escaping and force them to disembark and take them to the base to be beaten and detained. Today in the morning as they were beating us a policeman who I know came and then lied to them and said I have a pending case with the police and that he wanted to take me. I managed to escape and got a lift to Harare around 6. My whole body is painful from the beatings. I am worried about my family at home. The violations alleged by the victims were not trivial, as can be seen from Table 6. Table 6 Alleged violations reported [n=285] Alleged Violation Number [%] Abduction 5[2%] Assault 78[27%] Assault [GBH] 210[74%] Destruction of property 46[16%] Theft 46[16%] Unlawful arrest 6[2%] Unlawful detention 36[13%] The average number of different violations per person reported was 2.1 [sd.1.3], and a total of 40 [14%] reported being displaced [see Table 7 below]. There are also an appreciable number of