The Unleashing of Violence:
A report on violence in Zimbabwe
update for the week ending May 26, 2000

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A Summary of Reports of Political Violence made to the Human Rights NGO Forum from 20-26 May 2000
It should be noted that this is not in any way a comprehensive report of political violence that has occurred in the period, rather it is a selective view of cases which the project has been researching. Many of the incidents listed below took place some time ago, but are listed here as they were reported to the project in the week under review. They are presented in order of the date on which the incident occurred. Some of the reports were made directly to the project by victims or witnesses ? several of these have received prior or subsequent press coverage. Others are reports which have yet to be verified either by the project or by other sources, as far as we are aware. The project has not detailed cases relating to threats and intimidation or destruction of property as these are too numerous to document.

Extrajudicial Killings
16 May 2000: A group of about 15 war veterans went to Nyakuchena Secondary School in Mudzi and abducted a female teacher who was accused of being an MDC supporter. She was severely assaulted together with a number of other opposition supporters. The teacher is reported to have died on 19 May 2000 from wounds sustained in the assault.

Torture
18 May 2000: The MDC coordinator for Hurungwe West was taken from a bus by Zanu (PF) supporters who were travelling in a Karoi Town Council truck. She was taken to Kazangarare township where she was severely beaten and tortured at the Zanu (PF) offices. She was beaten with iron bars, wire, sjamboks and sticks. She was forced to sing MDC campaign songs and then was beaten. She was also forced to denounce MDC and Morgan Tsvangirai and to resign from the party. She is being treated for bruises on the mouth, buttocks, under the feet and on her back and legs. She has since fled the area.

Assaults
29 March 2000: At 10:00 pm, a resident of Weverly, Kadoma, was assaulted by suspected Zanu (PF) youths and war veterans. He was badly injured and taken to Kadoma hospital where he was treated for a fractured rib.

10 April 2000: An MDC member from Chaza village in Murehwa was beaten with rubber sticks all over the body. His mother was also beaten and his home was burnt down.

18 April 2000: Several teachers at Chitimbe school in UMP, Mashonaland East were assaulted and one woman was raped by Zanu (PF) supporters.

26 April 2000: Several UP supporters from Mudzi, Mashonaland East were assaulted by Zanu (PF) supporters.

28 April 2000: The UP candidate for Mudzi was assaulted by Zanu (PF) supporters. He was assaulted a second time on 7 May and fled his home on 10 May.

30 April 2000: A UP supporter was beaten along with his wife and several other opposition supporters in Nyamatawa in Mudzi.

7 May 2000: An MDC supporter, wearing a party T-shirt, was attacked by Zanu (PF) supporters in Birchenough bridge in Manicaland. He was taken to Helani’s business premises near Chisvo, where he was beaten and forced to chant Zanu (PF) slogans. He suffered injuries to his eye as well as bruising and lacerations.

10 May 2000: Mark Madiro, the Zanu (PF) candidate for Hurungwe West is said to have brought a gang of youths to Mudzimu township. They intimidated local people into attending a rally. They also handcuffed and tied the MDC youth vice-chairperson to a tree, where they brutalised him. He was tied there the whole night and interrogated. He was freed to go to the toilet at around 10:00 am the following morning and he managed to escape. He went to Chidamoyo hospital where later that evening Madiro arrived with youths, singing anti-opposition songs. The MDC member fled with the chairperson of MDC for the area, who was visiting him at the time. They spent the night in the bush and the chairperson and his family have since fled the area. The same day three other MDC members were assaulted, one severely. A number of other youths were also said to have suffered injuries, but these have yet to be verified.

15 May 2000: Zanu (PF) supporters attacked suspected opposition members at Nyahumbare village in Karoi. A peasant farmer reported assaults upon himself, his brother and his wife as well as destruction of property.

16 May 2000: War veterans who had been responsible for abducting a teacher at Nyakuchena school the same day later went to Musambi primary school, where they are accused of assaulting the Deputy Headmaster, who was forced to lie on his front during the beating. Another teacher was similarly beaten. The headmaster is said to have run away from the school before the incident when he heard he was wanted by the war veterans.

18 May 2000: An MDC member from Sadza, Chikomba was assaulted by a group of Zanu (PF) supporters at the Sadza beer hall.

20 May 2000: An MDC member from Budiriro in Harare was knocked over by a commuter omnibus carrying about ten Zanu (PF) supporters. He has a bruised eye and has stitches over it. He also claimed that on 16 April he was abducted by Zanu (PF) supporters and taken to the home of Gladys Hokoyo, a local MP, where he says he was tortured with strings tied around his neck and penis, and beaten.

21 May 2000: Two brothers from Mukurazhizha in Murehwa were attacked by Zanu (PF) youths.

21 May 2000: A constituency co-ordinating chairperson of the MDC was attacked by Zanu (PF) youths when visiting his rural home in Murombedzi, Zvimba South. He was waiting at a bus stop on his way back to Chinoyi when he was found by the youths who beat him with iron bars, sjamboks, wire and knobkerries. He ran in front of a passing truck which managed to stop. Inside were members of the CIO who questioned him, but later took him to the local police station. The youths were waiting for him when he reached the hospital, but he was treated under police security. He sustained wounds to the head, legs and the whole body.   TOP