12 The extent of forced attendance at Zanu (PF) meetings was especially apparent in August. At the end of the month, two persons were beaten at Gwangwadza for not attending a Zanu (PF) rally. 28 A few days later, 24 people attending a funeral at Chakuma were forced to leave the body behind and attend a Zanu (PF) rally. During that same period, MDC youths were attacked and beaten by Zanu (PF) youth in the constituency. The local MDC leader was forced to attend numerous Zanu (PF) rallies from then on. Some of the MDC youth had their party T-shirts ripped off and were forced to polish the shoes of Zanu (PF) supporters. Reports also emerged of huts being burnt and threats by the ZRP against MDC officials trying to hold a rally. 29 On 17 August, a local MDC vice-chairperson was attacked, along with his wife and son, by Zanu (PF) youth, armed with pickaxe handles and sticks. Three other children escaped direct attack, but the entire family, except the father, was in the house when Zanu (PF) supporters set it alight. A one-year old baby was saved only when his mother rescued him from the burning house. No one was injured in the blaze,but $600 000 worth of property was destroyed in the attack. 30 Later in August,Zanu (PF) supporters and a war veteran militia followed MDC supporters in the Mushangwe resettlement area. The militia was searching for MDC members who were on their ‘hit list’,but failed to locate them. Instead they torched a church after they saw posters for MDC candidate Remus Makuwaza at a nearby farm. In addition,there were reports of torture bases set up by the militias in the area.31 The results of the by-election seemed consistent with the period of brutalization that preceded it. Whereas the June 2000 election saw a 54 per cent to 35 per cent win for Zanu (PF) amid massive violence, the by-election results favored Zanu (PF) by an increased 60 per cent to 33 per cent for the MDC. By all accounts, the violence, intimidation and forced registration were more severe and targeted during the bye-election. Though 48 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots in the June 2000 elections, only 40 per cent dared to do so in September 2001. That is a significant decline in a little over a year, and can most likely be attributed to the atmosphere of fear pervasive in the constituency during that time. Given the lack of acceptable electoral conditions on nearly all fronts, ZESN determined that the ‘freeness and fairness of the Makoni West By-election was compromised.’32 Again the ruling party used battle-tested tactics of vote manipulation with success. With the nation watching, Zanu (PF) augmented its typical violence and intimidation by enlisting local leaders to force residents to cast their vote for the ruling party. 6. Chikomba By-election - 22-23 September 2001 The second by-election of the month was held in the Chikomba constituency, following the death of Zanu (PF) MP, and Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) leader, Chenjerai Hunzvi. It seemed inevitable that violence would yet again be employed to affect the outcome of the election. Hunzvi himself was known for notorious acts against opposition groups33. He is alleged to have operated torture centers during the 2000 parliamentary elections and built up war veteran militias nationwide that have been the main catalyst for violence across the country. Clearly this was a constituency that Zanu (PF) was not willing to lose. 28 See ZESN (2001), Makoni West Constituency By-election, HARARE: ZESN. ibid. 30 HRLU Statement 31 HRLU Statement 32 See ZESN (2001), Makoni West Constituency By-election, HARARE: ZESN. 33 See Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (2001), Who was responsible? A consolidated analysis of pre-election violence in Zimbabwe, HARARE: ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS NGO FORUM. 29 AMANI TRUST: Organised Violence and Torture in the Bye-Elections held in Zimbabwe during 2000 and 2001.