Previous medical history:
In good health prior to torture. Never hospitalised.
Alleged Torture Methods
Psychological torture: Threats, including death threats.
Humiliation (stripped naked).
Physical torture:
Unsystematic beatings with sjamboks and sticks all over until
unconsciousness.
Falanga
Burning with cigarettes
Subjective Complaints
Headaches, anxiety attacks, depression, diminished concentration.
Objective Physical Findings
Regio frontalis sin:
Oculis dxt:
Oculis sin:
Regio mandibulis dxt:
Regio brachialis dorsalis dxt:
Regio michae et dorsalis:
Regio renis dxt:
hypertrophic scar, 2 ( 1½ cm
echymosis around the eye
bleeding in the conjunctiva
fractured jaw (verified by radiology)
excoriations, 2 ( 2 cm
6 circular scars with atrophic centre, peripheral hypertrophic
white surrounding
Excoriations and ulcer, 8 ( 4 cm
Objective Psychological Findings
Calm, sad, depressed.
Conclusions
The objective physical findings correspond to alleged beating and cigarette burning (characteristic
scars). The subjective complaints and objective psychological findings are in accordance with the
psychological after effects of torture.
5.1.8 Case H:
History
Mr D.D. is 25 years old and a member of MDC, he is currently unemployed. He went to an MDC
rally at approximately 7 P.M. and found that there was a ZANU PF meeting at the Stadium. He was
taken inside a room where there were more then 30 men who he identified as war veterans and was
handcuffed by them. He was stripped and beaten on the chest and face with rubber sticks, and
shambocks by people who took it in turns to hit him for about half an hour. For about 10 minutes
He was also beaten under the feet ( Falanga ) so as not to run away. During this time he was
screaming so loudly that he alerted his friends that were arriving for the MDC meeting. He was told
by the perpetrators that he was going to be killed and would be taken away by car to be killed in
another place. He was put in a room which was locked. The ZANU PF came back and unlocked
the door but at that moment other MDC arrived and his friends took him to a police station. He was
asked to tell his story and was able to phone for an ambulance. The police made a statement and he
was taken to a hospital. Upon arrival he showed his injuries but felt that the hospital staff did not
want to treat him as their attitude was not friendly. He had X rays taken and was given painkillers.
To date the police has carried out no investigations. He is afraid that these people will find him and
torture him again.
Previous medical history:
21
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