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

Mashonaland East
General Observations on Mashonaland East
Supporters of opposition party who have remained behind in the worst affected areas of this province live in mortal danger. At any time of the day or night raiding parties of Zanu (PF) militias may attack their houses with dire consequences for both them and members of their families. They may be kidnapped and taken to bases of the militants where they may be beaten to death or severely tortured. They may be brutalised in their house and their wives may be raped and their children assaulted. The militants find out about their party affiliation by being supplied with the information by the CIO, or by finding party lists in raids on other party officials or by searching their houses and demanding the production of Zanu (PF) cards. The sole "crime" of these victims was to exercise their democratic choice to join a political party other than Zanu (PF).  TOP