witnesses [31; 11%.8] to the violations reported, with a good number of names provided by the victims. Of the serious assaults – assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, or aggravated assault – many would be classified as torture. The most common abuses were beatings [with fists and hands] and severe beatings [using some instrument]. As can be seen from Table 6 above, serious beatings [assault GBH] were markedly more common than beatings [assault], which is markedly different to the findings of previous reports, and suggests a very serious escalation in the type of violence being perpetrated. The threats preponderantly referred to elections; either because a person supported the MDC, or had voted for the MDC, or would still vote for the MDC. The destruction of property was very high, and mostly referred to the burning of houses, often accompanied by the theft of property, agricultural produce and livestock. The general effect was to make the victims indigent and mostly resulted in their being displaced. Table 7 Frequency of torture and torture types reported. [n=210] Number [%] Torture 92[44%] Types of Torture: Asphyxiation 20[10%] Burns 4[2%] Death threats 2[1%] Displaced 40[19%] Falanga 8[4%] Intimidation 187[89%] Threats 102[49%] Use of restraints 7[3%] The inferred rates of torture, as a percentage of the assault [GBH] category, were still high [44%], and higher than the overall rate recorded by the Human Rights Forum [see Table 1 above], but not as high as the rate as that reported earlier in Figure 5. 21 Both falanga and the use of restraints – both shown in the case reported above – were found, and these are highly indicative of torture, but, as indicated above, the major abuse reported was severe beatings. Displacement was included as this can be plausibly described as a form of psychological torture, and it is worth commenting that no 21 The actual rate of torture is undoubtedly higher, as was reported in the analysis of the larger data set, but the more conservative estimate emerged due to the lack of detail in the statements. Strict conformity with the definition in the UN Convention Against Torture meant that, in many cases of aggravated assault, torture could not be concluded from the information. However, the information clearly established aggravated assault.