When we went to Chegutu police station to report that our houses….had been destroyed and we gave names of the ZANU-PF militia who had destroyed our houses to police, they did not even bother to take down our statement. One police officer said, “Our hands are tied. We cannot do anything where ZANU-PF is involved. However, if your case was not political we could have helped you—all political violence matters are off limits for the police.”96 The same sentiments were echoed by a police officer operating in Mashonaland West province who told Human Rights Watch: We have the dockets ready. We know all the ZANU-PF culprits in this area who are responsible for various acts of political violence. We see them every day. We are ready to arrest if the order is given. Otherwise one cannot just go out and arrest a ZANU-PF supporter without…clearance. It is like walking into a lion’s den; that is just not done.97 The case of Kadombo Chitokwa illustrates the police’s continuing unwillingness to investigate crimes against MDC activists. He told Human Rights Watch: I was abducted by ZANU-PF youths on June 24 and taken to a base at a Shamva farm where I was beaten, verbally abused and detained for 42 days. I was released on August 7. On August 9 I went to make a report at Shamva police station. The police told me to go home as they would come and investigate the matter as soon as possible. After four days…I went back to the police…since they had not come to my home. This time the police told me, “We cannot investigate your case. Consider it a thing of the past. It is over now. It is time now to focus on the ongoing talks between ZANU-PF and MDC.”98 96 Human Rights Watch interview with Gift Konjana, Chegutu, August 29, 2008. 97 Human Rights Watch interview with police officer, Chinhoyi, August 25, 2008. 98 Human Rights Watch Interview with Kadombo Chitokwa, Bindura, August 19, 2008. “Our Hands Are Tied” 30