Human Rights Watch also received information of the existence of at least five camps or bases where beatings and torture of MDC activists and perceived activists took place in Nyanga district, Manicaland. These bases were located in the following areas: close to Barenga army camp, in ward 23, at Nyanga Country Club, in ward 15 and at the Ruwange business center.67 Human Rights Watch gathered similar evidence of torture bases and camps in the provinces of Masvingo, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central.68 In one incident, a man from Mashonaland East province who was abducted by “war veterans” and later saved by the police, told Human Rights Watch that police took him to five bases around the province as they tried to prevent “war veterans” from carrying out acts of violence, an attempt which failed. He told Human Rights Watch: When the police came and rescued me they took me to Dumuyera shopping center where there is a base. A war veteran leader called Masango was there beating a lot of people and trying to burn the home of a businessman. At Luckydip there was also a base there and police tried to get the war vets to disperse. There were also bases at Jani, Chitugazuwa, and Rukado. At Chitugazuwa base I saw people who were beaten so badly. I saw a lady who couldn’t walk she was severely beaten up. It was around past 7 p.m. People were being brutally beaten.69 On May 13, the Herald newspaper reported that police had dismantled camps in Bikita and Gutu in the province of Masvingo.70 However, the police did not carry out any arrests or take any other action against those responsible for setting up the camps. Further, Human Rights Watch has evidence of the continued existence of other camps in Masvingo, as well as in other provinces around the country. 67 Human Rights Watch information from confidential source, Harare, May, 2008. 68 Human Rights Watch interviews with victims and eyewitnesses, Harare, April and May 2008. 69 Human Rights Watch interview, Harare, April 18, 2008. 70 “Anti-violence drive intensifies,” The Herald newspaper, May 13, 2008. 33 Human Rights Watch 2008

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