The only difference observed as regards the defendants is that the army is significantly more likely
to be cited as defendant in cases containing a political element (Table 13).
Table 13
Association of defendants with political events
Non-political
72.3%
70.4%
34.6%
Ministry of Home Affairs
Commissioner of Police
Ministry of Defence
Political
65.9%
64.4%
48.5%*
*χ2: Defence (5.76; P = 0.005)
As can be seen from Table 14, the Riot Squad and the army is more likely to be named as the
perpetrator in political cases, and, whilst the uniformed branch of the ZRP is more likely to be
named in non-political cases, it is named in a very high percentage of the political cases too.
Table 14
Association of alleged perpetrators with political events
Non-political
43.4%*
7.6%
1.3%
14.5%
5.7%
32.7%
0
1.3%
ZRP (Uniformed branch)
ZRP (CID)
ZRP (PISI)
ZRP (Riot Squad)
ZRP (Support Unit)
Zimbabwe National Army
CIO
ZANU(PF)
Political
31.8%
11.4%
0
23.5%*
6.8%
46.9%*
0.8%
3.4%
*χ2: ZRP Uniformed branch (4.1; P = 0.05); ZRP Riot Squad (3.88; P = 0.05); Army (6.16; P = 0.005)
Unsurprisingly, assaults and torture are more frequently reported in the political group (Table 15),
but serious assaults are reported with very high frequency in both groups. Interestingly, falanga is
reported with about the same frequency in both groups, so falanga does not seem to be a form of
abuse associated only with political cases.25
Table 15
Association of type of violations with political events
Assault
Assault GBH
Murder
Property violations
Theft
Torture
Unlawful arrest
Unlawful detention
Shooting
Non-political
20.8%
64.2%
1.9%
5.0%
1.3%
57.2%
11.9%
18.9%
11.3%*
Political
30.3%*
66.7%
0
6.1%
0
75.8%*
11.4%
20.5%
1.5%
*χ2: Assault (3.5; P = 0.05); Torture (10.97; P = 0.005); Shooting (10.83; P = 0.005)
25
This is a form of torture described as focused beating on the soles of the feet with sticks, although now cables and
metals are being used. It is said to have originated in Turkey but was also recorded in the Far East. Falanga is popular
as its effects are difficult to identify medically. See Cameron Kippen, The History of Foot Torture, Curtin University of
Technology, Department of Podiatry. <http://podiatry.curtin.edu.au/falanga.html>.
14
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