Who is responsible?
A preliminary analysis of pre-election violence
in Zimbabwe
June 20, 2000

Mashonaland East
Violence against Farm Workers
There are no direct statements taken from injured farm labourers. However, the Commercial Farmers Union have carried frequent reports of assaults upon farm workers, burning of workers houses and forcing of workers to go to all night rallies during which workers would be beaten. (See the reports of the CFU for more details about violence against farm workers in Mashonaland East.) There have also been numerous newspaper reports on violence against farm workers. For instance in articles at the end of April there were various reports of night time raids by war veterans and Zanu (PF) youths. Labourers reported that they were beaten and intimidated and lectured on the evils of the MDC. It was reported that after they were beaten and their houses were set on fire, workers who had been assaulted were then forced to go to adjoining farms and beat farm labourers there. One farm worker from a farm in Wedza related how he was forced to go and attack other farm workers. It was alleged that at least 15 farms in the area had received the "Red Guard" treatment, and more were likely to be targeted. In another newspaper report it was reported that all the workers’ houses on a farm east of Harare had been attacked and destroyed.

At around 1:15 am on the 24 April the war veterans came. They first knocked at my door and when no answer came they banged the door and the door opened. I went out of the room and they tied my hands with handcuffs. They demanded MDC cards and t-shirts. They started beating me with strong wire, logs and motor–bike chains. They gave me strict instructions not to look at their faces. I don’t know how many of them beat me up but I only know that they are many of them. They lashed at my feet with wire such that presently I am having problems with walking. The right leg is causing me considerable problems. When they hit me blood started choking my nasal and they left me unconscious. They then looked for the other farm workers chained them and flogged them. They then burnt all their huts then they started burning my head. Sensing danger the farmer called the police but they only came at 9:00 am. By this time the war vets who had assaulted me and some farm workers had vanished and replaced by new ones. The remaining war vets left at ten and I pointed the guy who had betrayed me but the police simply did nothing. Two of the war vets who caused havoc at the farm are Claudius (surname unknown) and Gideon Mbewe and they both live in Wedza.

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