It seems evident from the monthly data collected by the Human Rights Forum that gross human rights violations – torture, political discrimination, murder, death threats, assault, and abductions – are significantly more frequent during election periods. The arguably less serious violations – unlawful arrest and detention, interference with freedoms, displacement, and disappearances – are significantly more common in the other months. This does seem to provide prima facie support for the view that the organized violence and torture was strategic, and this is additionally supported by the State’s apparent condonation of it, by granting amnesties and failing to take action against the perpetrators.20 It is relevant to point out that the State can be held liable for acts of omission as well as acts of commission, and it is certainly not the case that the ZANU(PF) government was unaware of the many reports being issued: it has even been challenged on its human rights record by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Ignorance may be bliss, but is hardly a defence! 20 A similar point has been made in respect of the Food Riots. Here, see Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, What Happened to the Victims of the Food Riots, 19–23 January 1998? (Harare: The Human Rights NGO Forum, 2006). 7