types of violence and intimidation assessed, the MDC-T supporters had been far more exposed than their ZANU-PF counterparts. Table 11: Respective experiences of politically motivated acts of violence since independence by supporters of the two main political parties MDC-T ZANU-PF Acts of politically motivated violence % of party supporters who have personally experienced the acts of violence and intimidation Intimidation, threat, harassment 46 12 Theft / damage of personal property 18 4 Denial of food / starvation 20 4 Forced removal from home / confiscation of land 11 2 Closure of a business 6 1 Loss of a job 8 1 Arrest, kidnap, abduction 9 1 Personal injury, sexual assault, torture 15 2 Witnessed someone else being injured, killed 42 20 Question: ‘Thinking about the period since independence in 1980, tell me if you personally were ever affected in any of the following ways … Refer only to events that were politically motivated’ [Q44, by party support – of the 58% of respondents who did declare it] 3.3 Experiences of violence and intimidation in contemporary Zimbabwe Zimbabweans live in a world of extreme consciousness of omnipresent political violence and intimidation. There is also a widespread recognition of the likelihood that important political events and decisions in contemporary Zimbabwe are likely to see political violence. Zimbabweans nevertheless do not accept the prevalence of violence as inevitable. They continue to believe that things can and should be better: They are far more inclined to say that ‘the use of violence is never justified in Zimbabweans politics’ (93%), than to agree with the statement that ‘in Zimbabwe it is sometimes necessary to use violence to support a just cause’ (3%) [Q41]. This set of responses transcends the party political divide. They also strongly believe that ‘politics need not be dangerous; people can learn how to work together in peaceful ways’ (81%) [Q40]. 32