We were forced to dig holes with our fingers and spit into them, swearing never to support MDC again. Later we were taken one after another for beatings. Everson Gwamura was taking us to the youths that we did not know. They were using electric cables, sticks and knobkerries to assault us. I suffered injuries on my back, buttocks, legs, hands, and palms.

We were released around 4pm. I could not go and report for fear of victimization and when the police came I did not cooperate with them. Instead, I chased them away. Later I gave them the report and they referred me to Murehwa Hospital for medication. No arrests have been made so far. The injuries are still painful and I need some treatments.

It was on the 6th of April 2000 between 11 and 12pm, when I had gone for a drink at a local nightclub, that one Noel started pinpointing me alleging that I was a sell-out because I am an MDC supporter. They started pushing and shoving me and wanting to take me to their base but I refused. They were about 10 in number but the ones I can positively identify are Noel, Swahili and Agnes. I was hit on the head with an empty coke bottle and I bled profusely. Some of them started assaulting me with booted feet and open hands. I was saved from further assaults by a policeman. I went and reported the matter at Juru Growth Point but no arrests were made.

In the second incident several of the Zanu (PF) supporters came to my house on the 29th of April 2000 at around 1:30am in a pick-up truck. Noel was there and so was Everson Gwamura, Soul, Tinashe and James. They were operating on instructions from Paddington Zhanda, the Zanu (PF) Mashonaland East Chairman. They forced their way into my house. They came purporting to be MDC supporters being assaulted by Zanu (PF) supporters. They then openly declared that they were in fact looking for me and wanted to burn all the MDC material that I had. They were armed with iron bars, chains and sjamboks. They started assaulting me and destroyed the bulb in my house. They ransacked the whole room and stole some of my property alleging that I was benefiting from the whites' property who were funding MDC. One policeman came to my rescue but he was assaulted and had his jaws broken. I later passed out and was taken to the hospital, together with the policeman, by an ambulance. I reported the matter on the same day but no action was taken.

On the 14th of June at around 2 p.m., a group of about 20 Zanu (PF) supporters came to my house and started ransacking it. They alleged that we were sell-outs. I was assaulted with anything they could lay their hands on to hit me. I was struck with a stone in the left eye. I know one of my assailants, Cliff Jezenga, who stays in my neighbourhood. My wife was also assaulted for being an MDC supporter and therefore an enemy to Zanu (PF). I suffered injuries all over my body and it took some time for me to recover, although I am still not fully better.

It was on the 7th of May 2000 when several Zanu (PF) supporters came to my homestead in Mapanga Village and accused my family and I of not attending rallies in the village and of being MDC members. The started assaulting me and my wife and son. I managed to identify the following people: Cliff Jezenga, Caleb Mushamba, Mandi Nyarambi, Simba Chirimuuta, Calvin Zvai, Nyasha Kashaka, Trust Mapaneshure, Laiza Jezenga.

The above mentioned (written statement) were using sjamboks and sticks to assault me. I suffered injuries to my head and right ear. I could not go and report the matter because of the threats I received and also the police were not taking action. I also did not seek medication because the hospital staff wanted a referral letter from the police if the injuries emanated from violence. I am still feeling some pain in both the ear and the head.

On the second of April there was a Zanu (PF) rally at Chipako Stores in Chief Chikwizo area. The Zanu (PF) leaders in the area moved throughout the villages forcing people to attend the rally. Garai Chikwizo, who is the Zanu (PF) leader in the area, and a Councillor called Chimhango were the main figures forcing the people to attend the rally. They were assisted by Solomon Kanyoka who called himself the acting chief and a man simply known as Navhaya. At the rally the aforementioned Zanu (PF) leaders took turns to denounce UP and its leader calling it an undesirable element in the country. Zanu (PF) was said to be the only legitimate party in Zimbabwe. They said the UP should not be supported as it had caused the death of many people in the colonial era. Chimango warned people not to campaign for or they could face the consequences. Garai Chikwizo ordered everyone to pay money for Independence celebrations regardless of the fact that you did not support Zanu (PF). Everyone paid out of fear.

After the Independence celebrations there was another Zanu (PF) rally at Chipako shopping centre and everyone was forced to attend. The Zanu (PF) parliamentary candidate Joseph Kaukonde was present. Also present were Damiano Muwhata, Garikayi Chikwizo and Mujuru.

Mujuru spoke first and introduced Kaukonde. Kaukonde said that by electing him to contest in the forthcoming elections they had made a mistake because he was not going to allow anyone to vote a rival party and anyone found supporting a rival party would pay. He ordered all MDC and UP supporters to surrender their t-shirts. He told us that Zanu (PF) had bought the police and the polling officers such that if we voted for any other party they would open the ballot boxes and see the number of votes cast for a rival party and they would know the people who cast the votes and fix them.

Soon after this rally we confided our fear to the police who said there was nothing they could do as they were afraid of being victimised. In early May there was another rally attended by Damiano, Mujuru and others. Prior to this we had surrendered our UP cards to the kraal head, who is also a UP member. The Zanu (PF) leaders arranged another rally for the following Wednesday. Everyone was ordered to be there.

The day before the rally there was a funeral. At the funeral Zanu (PF) youths would come and collect people, UP supporters, and beat them up. On Wednesday I went home. I went where my scotch cart had broken down with a view to repair it. The Zanu (PF) youths came to my home and asked me whether I was going to the rally and I said I was. They asked me to bring my UP card and I told them I had already surrendered it. When we arrived at the rally. Juru was speaking. He ordered all UP supporters to stand on one side and MDC supporters on the other side. He then said ‘madziona here mhondi idzo, zvigu tsa zvinofanira kugoborwa ‘ (‘Do you see these murderers? They are stumps that should be uprooted’). Our names were written down and Mujuru said they wanted the names so that if Zanu (PF) loses they would fix us.

Mujuru called me after he was told that I was the District Organiser and Provincial treasurer of the UP. Damiano called the headman and told him that he did not want me in the village anymore. They took me and Shacky Njanji to Kotwa where we were subjected to further harassment. They wanted us to give them the names of all UP supporters in the area but we told them that it was not available as it had been confiscated by Zanu (PF) youths. We were then told to walk back from Kotwa to our homes about 30 km away. This was after they had thoroughly beaten with logs. We walked and arrived home at around 3:00 am. My wife took me to Damiano’s home and tried to reason with him that what he was doing was bad. The following day Zanu (PF) youths came again. They found me and my wife and a mentally retarded child. They started breaking window panes. My mentally retarded son started fighting the thugs. I took my jacket and tried to run away but they grappled with me. I let go of the jacket which had money in it ran away and made my way to this place. I left my family at the mercy of the thugs. I don’t know if they are still alive or not. It pains me to think of my boy fighting with those thugs. They are totally callous and inhuman. They are murderers and I am sure if I had not

taken to my heels they would have killed me in cold blood.

Letter from (name withheld) dated 25/09 addressed to (name withheld) states that those behind the violence were Mr Muwata (the chief) and Elec Navhaya (Zanu (PF) District Chair of Chikwizo) with Mujuru. (Does not wish to be called as a witness for fear of victimisation).

Property damaged: Sewing Machine, one metre solar system, clothes and blankets, furniture, kitchen unit, cups, plates, window panes for two rooms. $19 000 was also lost.

The vehicle that drove victim to Kotwa was a green Nissan Hardbody reg no. 730-289R.

At about 0800hrs, 9 Zanu (PF) youths went to M.C.’s homestead and demanded a bicycle that they claimed was the property of MDC. Despite his assertion that he had never received a bicycle or any other property from MDC, they tortured the 64-year-old M.C. using booted feet, clenched fists, sjamboks and knobkerries. They burnt down two of his huts including a granary. Four windowpanes were destroyed. The property damaged is valued at $64 000. His family was also beaten up.

The matter was reported to the police but no action has been taken yet. The assailants are known as Themba Chaponda, Edwin Majonga, Edward Zharima, Brian Nyoka and Martin Chipango. All the assailants are from Murehwa.

On the 15th of May 2000, at around 1:00 pm, 10 Zanu (PF) youths forced their way into C.M’s house. They took $2100, and then took her out of her house and tortured her with wire and sjamboks. They then demanded MDC t-shirts and party cards but she owned neither. She was warned that if she made a report to the police, her house would be burned down. The victim identified Brian Nyoka, Mr Jisi and Mr Chingosho. They are based at the business centre, where they have a chamber house.

On the 13th of May 2000, 8 Zanu (PF) youths clad in party t-shirts approached the complainant and ordered him to chant Zanu (PF) party slogans. When he was unable to do so, they took him the their operational base and tortured him with baton sticks. He was detained for two nights. The complainant was able to identify Brian Nyoka and another man known only as Charles.

Zanu (PF) supporters tortured her with sticks and open hands. She sustained a deep cut on her face and is being treated at Marondera Hospital. They included J.B. Matiza and Chakawarika.

I am the MDC organising secretary in Chigogodza District in Murehwa. My husband is the chairman and the one who was spearheading the MDC campaign in most areas of Murehwa. Towards the end of April we received strange visitors who demanded to know our party affiliation and why we were campaigning for the MDC. These people were incited to do this by the Zanu (PF) candidate for Murehwa South, Joel Matiza, Cllr. Jonasi and Cllr. George Nadzo. They came on several occasions but I managed to flee. When they were tired of looking for my husband and me they burnt one of the buildings to our home that housed our harvest. A rally was called and they demanded to see my husband and me but we managed to escape.

I am the MDC co-ordinator based at Murehwa Growth point. On the 12th of April 2000, around 12 pm, at Murehwa Growth Point there was a group of us wearing MDC t-shirts. One of the Zanu (PF) supporters, called Marondera (whom I later discovered is really named Paddington Zhanda, and is the Zanu (PF) chairman for Mashonaland East) threw a teargas canister at us. There were about 7 or 8 of us. Everyone started running away, but I could not go far and I surrendered to them. Some of them, the first group which captured me did not assault me, but when another group came, the assaults began. This group comprised Rudo Nherera, Mai Maperera and Rota Nherera. They were using open hands, fists, and one of them had a stone in her palm, which she used to strike me several times. That was Rudo Nherera. They took me to my place, demanding my cell phone, a pistol (which I do not own), $50 000 and a bicycle and set of sofas that they alleged the MDC had given to me. They managed to get the bicycle, 20 party cards, $2 500 in cash, some MDC literature, 2 videotapes, one audiotape, and 150 MDC t-shirts.

They then took me to the Zexcom offices. One of them struck me on my right ear, and it’s still painful. When we arrived I saw my colleague P.M., who was half-naked, already captured. Before we went to the Zexcom offices we were taken to PG, where Emmanuel Chapanzire and Dudzai Nyagande (MDC members) were ordered to come with us. We spent the whole night at their offices without blankets, and we were ordered to use the MDC t-shirts and campaign material to keep us warm. They then released us the following day, but they came back, alleging that we had phoned our MDC headquarters.

F. M. recounts his six-week abduction by Zanu (PF) supporters in which he was tortured and then detained. During his incarceration he was forced to join Zanu (PF) supporters as they went around the area seeking out MDC supporters to assault. In some cases, the group would yell out ‘Chinja!’, the MDC slogan meaning ‘change’, and beat anyone who gave a positive response. He overheard war veterans who said they were ordered by Paddington Zhanda to kill MDC supporters.

On the 25th of April, they came to my house, but I had been informed that they were coming. I hid somewhere, and they beat my wife with axe handles. My children saw what happened, but they were not beaten themselves. On the night of the 26th or 27th of April they came again, but I was not there again. My wife told them that I had gone to a nearby village, and they followed me there. They found me on my way home. I was almost home when I bumped into them. This was at about 8 or 9 pm. They only identified me as we were about to cross paths, and they threw a rock at me, which hit me in the mouth. I fell down unconscious. I came around in the hospital. I think they carried me to the nearby bus stop, and then took me to the hospital. They had to take me to the police first, though, so that they could get a police report. They said that I had been assaulted, and the police wrote a letter allowing hospital treatment. I think they took me to the hospital because I was seriously injured. I couldn’t walk, and my body was aching. I was treated the next day, and then they took me back to their base at the Zexcom Offices. They took me each day for bandaging until the treatment was over. I was kept at Zexcom from April to mid May. The war vets at the Zexcom offices addressed each other by their Chimurenga names.

They promised that if I joined Zanu (PF), they would do away with the MDC cadres, and I would get something after the elections – I would have some proper employment. All I had to do was to tell them the names of all the MDC supporters that I knew. I just told them I had been approached by some people from Harare, who I did not know, and I could tell them their names, but I did not know where they were. In truth, I had recruited a lot of MDC supporters, since I had started campaigning between February and March. Many of them were colleagues of mine at Chitimbe School. The rest of the MDC supporters that were captured had their cards taken and were beaten. The cards that were captured all had my name on them as the person who had distributed them

These people were often beaten up in front of the rally. The one who did this the most was Zhanda (Paddington Zhanda, known as Marondera, is the Zanu (PF) Mashonaland East Chairman). He was the one telling the youths "If you see an MDC supporter, you must kill him" (I overheard the war vets at Zexcom saying that he had told them this).

Every day the people at Zexcom would be chanting slogans, and every night when they were resting they would sing Chimurenga songs and chant slogans. There were many Zanu (PF) supporters there. Some of them had homes nearby, and would come in every day, whilst others were staying there. Every day groups of 20 to 30 would go out in one direction. The war veterans would do some duties while they were there. During the day there were over 100 of them, and they would take turns to address their people. Some of them were from Nhehweyenbwa. I am from Uzumba, which is just over the river from that place, and I know them. Their names are T Chifamba, Marungire, and Kativu, to name a few.

They would come back at about 6 in the evening. They were provided with mealie meal and matemba. I heard some of them saying that their chairman, Mr Zhanda, gave them money. They did some duties and some of them go to the beer hall, and when they came back, another group would go. This happened every day, but I didn’t see who came and went. They said that they were given a lot of money. About once a week they would go for drinking, and they were really happy. It happened many times, and usually if they were drunk they would say, "Our party has lots of money". I overheard some of them saying that they had raped women in Uzumba I heard also that there were people beaten at Zexcom in a building with a big yard and walls around it. Many of them were saying that they had beaten people, and that the MDC people would regret being MDC. They might bring the people to the Zexcom offices, or they might just beat them at home. The police at Murehwa were told, and they said that they could not intervene in political issues. Many cases were reported, but no action was taken.

I didn’t know who was the leader. They kept me in a small room that they used for keeping clothing in. There was no bed, and I was given one blanket. It was in a small building with 3 or 4 rooms. Often some of them would sleep in the same room as me. I was given very little food – we had two meals a day, of sadza and vegetables, and sometimes matemba as well. I was always locked in. It’s like torture… prison would have been better. I had to knock on the window when I needed the toilet. They told me that I could go back to my village after the elections.

They moved me to Musami in early May. I had told them that I was on my way to Musami when they bumped into me – that’s where my mother lives. They asked me if I would like to go to Musami, and I said yes, so they took me, but they did not let me see my mother. There were lots of youths at Musami, being led by the war veterans. There were hundreds of them there during the day, but at night there were only 80 to 100 Zanu (PF) people. I attended 4 rallies. Zhanda and (Joel B.) Matiza led one each, and the Chairman and Zanu (PF) members from Marondera addressed the other two. Once Matiza addressed a rally when I was there. He said, "I have offered all schools in Murehwa North $15 000 for school fees for children of war veterans. I have told the headmasters to nominate 3 children each". There were many people at the rally, which was held at Mabika School.

Musami was almost worse than Murehwa. The same system was used there, but the room was very small. We were locked in all the time, unless we were taken out to go beating people. I was given a Zanu (PF) card and a Zanu (PF) data form. They began to trust me a little bit, and thought that I had come over to their side. I was in there, and taken out to go for beatings 5 or 6 times a week. If we went out in the morning, we would come back in the afternoon. They used to board free transport. I went with them to Munamba School, and also to Manjonjo School (along the Marondera Rd). We also went to the villagers surrounding Mabika School. Two or three of them would wear Zanu (PF) t-shirts, with the rest of them wearing MDC t-shirts. If they came across someone, they would greet him with "Chinja!". If he responded positively, they would then beat him. I was given a Zanu (PF) t-shirt. The group was mixed boys and girls, some of whom were quite young (23-25 yrs).

They would get most of their information from the headmen. They would ask them whether there were any MDC supporters there (most headmen are Zanu (PF) supporters). The headman would just write out the names and give them to the youths, who would go with the list into the village and look for people. If they found him he was beaten and told to surrender all MDC campaign material. If he did so, he was beaten even more. Every day that they went out, they would beat people. Some people used to stay in the townships during the weekends. The youths would find someone who had just gotten off the bus and say that he was a real MDC supporter from Harare. I saw three guys beaten up like that. I think I must have seen about 100 beatings in total. They would beat anyone, men, women, and children.

They thought that I had really changed, and I pretended to be a Zanu (PF) supporter. I was forced to beat about 5 people, all strangers. We were very far from my home area. They were given money to go to the township and drink, so that they would be drunk when they went out beating people, and I was even forced to drink. I don’t know how much money they were given, but they always had enough that they were drunk. I think some of them smoked mbanje. When they beat someone, they would chant "Jambanja", which is an MDC slogan, which means fighting with a bully. If they captured an MDC supporter, they would say "nakonoro", which means to beat him until he gets air in him. The operation was called Operation Chatsva ("Destruction"). If you come in a big number, they would force the people to beat each other. If you beat them lightly, then they would beat you.

Some of them were intending to kill others, whilst others were just trying to frighten them. If a group had the spirit to kill someone, then I’m sure many were killed. While I was there I heard of one person who was killed in Musami (Rusike). The group, which went there, came back and said that they had heard that the person they had beaten was now dead. They didn’t care… they just said that they were going to kill more people. There is a man who was at Musami, brown in complexion, who used to walk with a pistol. He used to often wear a "red card" MDC t-shirt. He is a war veteran called MuChatsva. I could identify him if I saw him. There is also another one called Shorty, who is a leader of the youths. There are many others that I can identify.

I was in Musami for longer than I was in the Zexcom offices. I was held captive for about six weeks in all. There were only two of us who had been kidnapped – I left the other one there. He came from Manjonjo School, and he was beaten up and kidnapped after me. He was still under tight security when I left. We were escorted at all times by about 5 or 6 people, even when we went to the toilet. Often they tied us up with a rope while we were in the toilet, so that they could tell we were still there. The rope was tied around our waist or our legs. As they came to trust me, they stopped tying me up when I went to the toilet, and one day I managed to escape from them by running away when I went to the toilet.

An affidavit submitted by Mr Wilson Mushaya states that his brother Mationa and his brother’s son, Onias, were brutally beaten to death on 16 May 2000, allegedly by war veterans. Mationa Mushaya’s wife, Anna, was beaten unconscious but survived. Wilson Mushaya was ill and was not able to appear in court to give evidence. However, he alleges that his brother, who was the MDC Ward Chairman in his home district, was attacked by at least eight war veterans in the night. They entered their home, beat both of them in bed, dragged them outside and wrapped them in blankets before beating them again. Mationa died while his wife lay unconscious before being taken for medical attention. The assailants then proceeded to Onias’ house where they also beat him to death in a similar fashion. Wilson Mushaya alleged that the following people participated in the murder of his relatives: Enock Kuchiva, Nyepanayi Chipuriro, Rise Chifodya, Garikai Gumbedze, Andrew Chipamando, Taurayi Nhire, Macheka Chingwna and Lazrus Chifodya. He claimed that all but two are war veterans.

Mr Armijia Jimu testified that he was abducted and forced to the Cornerstone Business Centre rally with Matthew Rukwata and was detained at the Zanu (PF) base camp with him as well. Mr Jimu was also cross-examined by his alleged assailants, including Maxwell Hodzi, without the opportunity to question them. He alleged that he was originally abducted when a group of Zanu (PF) supporters screamed ‘There is the MDC’ and took him to a base camp. He identified Maxwell Hodzi as being present at the base camp.

Mr Jimu testified that during his detention he was forced to participate in morning runs with Zanu (PF) recruits. He shared a room with Matthew Rukwata where they were handcuffed to a bench at night. He was often tortured. He also had his hair cut against his wishes. Mr Jimu further claimed that he was forced to go on raids with Zanu (PF) supporters to beat up MDC supporters approximately five or six times. He was constantly under guard and could not escape. While being transported, he was often taken in a District Development Fund (DDF) vehicle. The DDF is a government institution that is supposed to be apolitical.