his election agent, Petros Chiunye and Mashonaland Central MDC provincial chairperson, Tapera Macheka, were severely assaulted by a rowdy mob that included Zanu (PF) Bindura councillors. They were taken to Bindura police station, where they were detained while the Zanu (PF) councillors were released after making statements. Chimbiri said: "Although we were the ones who were assaulted by the Zanu (PF) councillors, the police were treating us as if we were the guilty ones. Police are actually participating in a process of torturing and intimidating MDC members ahead of the general elections." By late yesterday, MDC candidates who had been harassed by police or Zanu PF supporters include: Godrich Chimbaira (Zengeza), Godfrey Gumbo (Hurungwe West), Prince Chibanda, (Zvimba North), Henry Chimbiri (Mount Darwin South), Godfrey Chimombe (Shamva), Silas Matamisa (Chinhoyi), Brian Mufuka (Rushinga), Joel Mugariri (Bindura), Njabuliso Mguni (Lupane), and Edwin Maupe of Mutare South. 7 March: A Guruve man was tortured, hanged by the neck on a tree and left for dead by a group of unidentified people for allegedly supporting the MDC last Monday, police have said. The case (RRB 0548388) was reported at Mushumbi Pools Police station on February 26. Investigating officer, Sergeant Mukondo, told The Daily Mirror that Noah Chirembwe (24) was abducted from his village, Mazambara under Chief Chitsungo, by a group of people and tortured. Chirembwe's request for a medical report to Guruve Hospital read: "The victim had his hands tied with a twine made rope and hanged by his neck on a tree and later struck with a burnt wooden stick upon his back and right cheek and also struck with sticks and ropes upon his body several times after being implicated for being aligned to the opposition party." (The Daily Mirror) Unlike the violence of the preceding years, these reports indicate sporadic, rather than endemic violence, and given the Government’s clear desire to present an election that appears, at least on the surface, to be free and fair, probably does not have the ruling party’s seal of approval. However, the significance of this violence should not be underestimated or dismissed as negligible given the extreme nature of the violence in the preceding years. Just as simply raising a hand is sufficient to halt an unruly child who has already been dealt a blow, so the current sporadic violence serves as a reminder to an already cowed electorate. In other words, the legacy of years of violence in Zimbabwe has bred a climate wherein just the potential threat of renewed violence is sufficient for maintaining fear in the populace. Furthermore, the continued reluctance of the police to investigate these crimes or to take action against the perpetrators indicates to the electorate the perpetrators’ continued immunity from prosecution, both now and for any reprisals which may be meted out in the post election period. And while the violence is less than that in previous years, it is still unacceptable in a democratic society and in violation of the SADC Guidelines. Violence served a variety of purposes in the previous elections. •It prevented opposition supporters from campaigning, holding rallies and disseminating information; 5