Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum: Report on political violence in Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands Case 25 - Area: Mberengwa On 6 May at about 7.00 pm the complainant was denied entry into Mataga Night Club. Later Mapiye the security guard told her that the place was a no go area for MDC supporters. As she left the place she was followed by a group of Zanu (PF) supporters who physically assaulted her On 27 May she was attacked by a group of Zanu (PF) supporters while she was at her house. She was forced to flee from her home and she went to Zvishavane. On 31 May she returned home together with Ms Holland the MDC candidate for Mberengwa West. On the day she returned home she joined a group of women who were at a UNDP workshop at the Growth Point. No sooner had the workshop began a group of men and women chanting Zanu (PF) slogans came and disrupted the meeting. They assaulted the women using sjamboks, sticks, open hands, clenched fists and booted feet. The group proceeded to forcefully open doors at houses belonging to perceived supporters of MDC. They unlawfully removed furniture and pieces of clothing from these houses. In the group of assailants the complainant managed to identify Stabile Mataga, Mr.Jokonya and a woman only known to the complainant as Mandlovu. Case 26 - Area: Mberengwa The complainant is the MDC branch secretary for Mataga area. On 6 May the complainant was denied entry into Mataga Night Club. She was told by Later Mapiye the security guard that the premises the property of Mataga Rural District Council was no go area for MDC supporters. As the complainant left the premises she was followed by a mob of Zanu (PF) supporters. The group of about 10 men demanded Zanu (PF) party T shirts from her. The group alleged that she no longer was a Zanu (PF) supporter and had therefore to return the party’s property. Without being given the opportunity to comply with the demand the complainant was struck in the face with an iron bar. She sustained a deep cut on the forehead close to the left eye. On 8 March she was admitted at Musumi Hospital for medical attention. On 28 May she was abducted by a group of about 200 Zanu (PF) supporters. She together with other suspected MDC supporters were forced to chant Zanu (PF) slogans and to utter the following derogatory terms “Tiri imbwa dzaTsvangirayi” Case 27 - Area: Mberengwa On 23 March the complainant was approached by 2 war veterans namely Walter Chiguzeni and Vambire Ncube. The war veterans accused the complainant of having campaigned for the no vote against the draft constitution. He was threatened with death for betraying the government by his participation in the no campaign. Further he was told that as a civil servant he was supposed to be loyal to the government. On 5 May a group of about 38 Zanu (PF) youths and war veterans abducted Trynos Shava and Brighton Chinyaka who were sleeping at the complainant’s business premises. The group had intended to kidnap the complainant but they had failed to locate him as he was in Bulawayo on business. Mr Shava and Mr Chinyaka were subjected to torture cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment. They were assaulted with various weapons including sticks and sjamboks. The two sustained multiple injuries including broken ribs and head injuries. On 9 May the complainant received a death threat which was not signed but he reasonably believed this to be the work of Zanu (PF) supporters who had made a foiled attempt on his life. On 11 May a Zanu (PF) rally was held at Mataga and one Absent Foloma read out the names of people who were on Zanu (PF) hit list. The complainant’s name was among those names. Acting on a tip off, the complainant fled to Zvishavane. On 13 May a group of about 80 Zanu (PF) supporters attempted another raid on the complainant. They did not find him as he had fled to Harare. The group has warned that they will deal with the complainant when he goes back. Absent Foloma a war veteran is the leader of the group that is threatening the complainant. Case 28- Area: Mberengwa The complainant was the campaign manager for the MDC candidate for Mberengwa, Mrs Sekai Holland. Sometime in May but on a day which the complainant cannot specifically remember a group of Zanu (PF) youths and some war veterans did the following unlawful acts On a day on which the MDC candidate was due to hold her campaign rally at Mataga business centre a mob of Zanu (PF) youths and war veterans gathered at the same venue. The group verbally abused the MDC candidate and her supporters and in an intimidating manner advanced towards them. The MDC supporters fled from the advancing group which was being led by Shiri; Eddie Nkomo,Taona Dziva, Kenneth Hove and Foloma from Gweru. The campaign team sought refuge at Mataga police station. 22