7
Deprivation experiences were also commonly reported, as can be seen from Table 3. Not all of
the Mount Darwin group were detained during their torture, but, of those who were, various forms
of deprivation were reported. Lack of medical treatment is important to note here, for many
survivors received no medical care for the injuries sustained during interrogation and torture, and
this was complicated by the closure of most hospitals during the latter part of the Liberation War.
This has undoubtedly contributed to the chronicity of many of the injuries.
Table 3.
Frequency of Deprivation in Mount Darwin
survivors (Amani.1998).
Deprived of food, comfort
Deprived of food, comfort[more
than 2-3 days]
Lack of water[more than 48 hours]
Immobilisation, restraint[more than
48 hours]
Lack of sleep[less than 4 hours per
night]
Lack of medical treatment
Other
122[37%]
124[38%]
41[12%]
63[19%]
89[27%]
77[23%]
9[3%]
Sensory over stimulation (see Table 4 below) was not commonly reported, which was the finding
of previous studies. Sensory over stimulation seems to have been experienced only by those
persons who were taken to specialised interrogation centres such as the Selous Scouts Fort in
Mount Darwin.
Table 4.
Frequency of Sensory Over stimulation in
Mount Darwin survivors (Amani.1998).
Constant noises
Screams, noises
Powerful lights
Constant lighting
Special devices
Drugs
Other
55[17%]
63[19%]
5[2%]
6[1.5%]
6[1.5%]
2[1%]
0
Psychological abuse, however, was reported with a very high frequency, as might have been
expected. It is noteworthy that the survivors did not openly report psychological abuse, but the
reports were prompted by the assessment process. As can be seen from Table 5, verbal abuse,
threats and false accusations were widely reported, with threats against families and simulated
executions also being reported with some frequency.
Table 5.
Frequency of Psychological Abuse in Mount
Darwin survivors (Amani.1998).
Verbal abuse
Threats
False accusations
Abuse with excrement
Sexual abuse
Threats against
family
Simulate execution
Other
218[64%]
184[54%]
163[48%]
17[5%]
20[6%]
89[26%]
79[23%]
9[3%]
AMANI TRUST: Beating your opposition. Torture during the 2002 Presidential campaign in Zimbabwe.