8 • • • • • • • • Briefing by the trial counsel on their evidence; Briefing by staff from the Human Rights Legal Unit on court procedure and trials; Medical examinations by doctors where this is necessary; Examinations and treatment by Rehabilitation Department of the University of Zimbabwe; Psychological examinations by AMANI staff for all witnesses; Counselling by Amani Trust staff on their human rights violation and their fears about testifying; De-briefing by Amani Trust staff following their testimony; Video-taping of all testimony. It was hoped that this system would ensure that the victims were able to give a good account of their traumatic experiences, and that all medical and psychological problems would be addressed. The system would also allow the preparation of both a dossier for submission to international human rights bodies, and for the preparation of civil suits on behalf of the victims. All victims, including the witnesses, were followed up after the trial, and, where necessary, arrangements made for witnesses to be accommodated in “safe houses” if further victimization occurred after the trials. There was concern that the witnesses could be subject to retaliation or further intimidation. There was early evidence that several had been assaulted subsequent to testifying, and there was credible evidence that a gang of “government supporters” was hunting down the witnesses through their constituencies. Of course, this then makes the situation considerably different to the South African Truth Commission or the Balkans War Tribunal where the victim-witnesses were no longer under obvious threat. AMANI Trust: Organised Violence and Torture in the June 2000 General Election in Zimbabwe