Harrison Mudzuri, MDC member of parliament for Zaka West in Masvingo province, whose homestead was attacked by alleged ZANU PF militia on August 14, went to a police station in his constituency to inquire about progress on the case, which he had previously reported. He told Human Rights Watch: At the police station I discovered that the officer-in-charge… had recently been transferred to another part of the country. The new officer-in-charge told me, “I am new at this post, and have no record of any political violence ever being reported at this police station. If you wish to pursue a matter that was reported before I took office…get in touch with the former officer in charge. Unfortunately, I do not know where he has been posted.” No investigations have been carried out and no arrests have been made and l have no hope that the people who attacked my home and my family will ever be brought to justice.99 Police Persecution of MDC Leaders, Supporters and Perceived Supporters Human Rights Watch has gathered extensive accounts of police arbitrarily arresting and detaining MDC leaders and activists. The systematic nature of these cases indicates intent by the police force to persecute perceived ZANU-PF opponents. Several activists and their lawyers have also alleged that the police have conjured elaborate and fictional “high-risk security” cases in order to justify the arrest and detention of MDC supporters.100 An MDC lawyer, Alec Muchadehama, told Human Rights Watch that the standard police pattern was to randomly arrest known MDC activists without carrying out proper investigations. If it turned out the person was falsely accused, then a team of police was tasked to create a case against the accused.101 99 Human Rights Watch interview with Harrison Mudzuri, Harare, August 21, 2008. 100 Human Rights Watch interview with Alec Muchadehama, Harare, August 19, 2008. 101 Ibid. 31 Human Rights Watch November 2008