It was on the 11th of June 2000 when we were at the Gokwe Centre with the R5 (vehicle) of our customer. The car was mistaken for an R5 that was used by Mr Edgar Sithole and Edson Nyathi, the Gokwe West and Central candidates for MDC. We tried to prove to them that it was not the one but they went on to attack the vehicle with stones. They took me out of the vehicle and beat me severely with blows and sjamboks. L.N. was beaten with iron bars and left unconscious. He was severely injured and sustained head injuries. D.N. was beaten with iron bars. We identified Cephas Bimbiko, Usite and Siziba.

I was identified as a teacher. They accused me of being the MDC chief architect in Gokwe. They beat me all over the body using any means available. They later abducted me and took me to their torture centre at Cheziya District Council. I was tortured using many means from 1800-2100hrs and later handed to the police at Gokwe who did nothing. I then ran away from the mob. I sustained hand, chest and head injuries. My left ear was infected and I am on medication for it. A. C. identified Bernard Siziba as one of his assailants.

Assaulted by Taurai Chiutsi and Maxwell Munotengwa for belonging to the MDC. Tortured by being beaten under the feet, falanga, with thick sticks and booted feet. Released after 30 minutes. $2 500 confiscated.

My father is an MDC member and I was wearing and MDC t-shirt when I met Zanu (PF) supporters including the Munotengwas who said I was the son of a traitor and needed to be taught a lesson. They threw empty beer bottles at me and I fell. They set upon me with sticks and sjamboks and left me unconscious. I still have continuous headaches.

I was attacked by a group of Zanu (PF) youths and war veterans at home. I was beaten with fists, sticks, wire and sjamboks. The reason being that I was supporting the Movement for Democratic Change. I failed to run so was caught and they started beating me. The attackers were: 1) Goddie Chiwara 2) Wonder Gwashe 3)Tompson Mutema 4) Lucky Chiwara. They destroyed all the kitchenware and clothes by burning them. An MDC bicycle and cash box containing $8 200 was taken for personal use. A toolbox was also taken. The grinding mill was also destroyed and filled with water and sugar.

I was attacked by a group of Zanu (PF) youths and war veterans at home. I was beaten with sticks, fists and wire sjamboks. The reason being that I supported the Movement for Democratic Change. I failed to run and was caught and beaten. I was dragged for about 500m being pulled by the hair. The under listed are the identified are the people who actually assaulted me: 1)Goddie Chiwara 2) Wonder Gweshe 3) Tompson Mutema 4) Lucky Chiwara.

On the 27th of April, the war vets came to the beerhall. One of them was Biggie Chitoro. They found Trynos and Simangaliso there. They beat Trynos, the MDC youth chairman, and Simangaliso, but he ran away, although they stole his shoes. They directed Trynos to my home. It was about 11 p.m. They said that they had been told that we supported MDC and that we held membership cards. Trynos knocked on my door, but I refused to come out. The war vets broke my windows and smashed my door open, and then dragged me out. My wife and three children were crying at this point. The war vets demanded an MDC card, and I said that it was in my wife’s wallet. I fetched it, and they took it and $4000 from my wife’s wallet. They tied me and Trynos up with wire and tied our hands together. They threatened to throw us into an old mine pits but later they decided to drive us to the farms. By now it was now 3 am, and they stopped to find some stones. They beat us thoroughly, and did so from 3 to 5am. They said that Biggie Chitoro is working for police and CIO. The left us after the beating, thinking we were dead, but we had fallen unconscious.

They were carrying weapons, sjamboks etc. There were only four of us so we just had to surrender. I don’t know how they identified us as MDC. We were even wearing Zanu (PF) T-shirts for disguise purposes. They made us lie down. They took ropes and tied our hands and legs and they started assaulting us. They were beating us with sjamboks. At around 7:00 p.m., they took us to their base at Texas Farm. They made a fire and they began assaulting us using fire. First it was my friend B.M. They tied plastic round his hands and legs and then lit it. Next it was my turn. They beat me first. Then they used all the same tactics, wrapping my legs, hands and private parts and lighting the plastics. They also lit some plastic and then dropped it on us as it melted. They were taking hot ashes and spreading them on my body. My hands and legs were tied. We were then told that the boss, Biggie Chitoro, would come back in the morning and his mission was to take off one of our eyes. I have burns all over my back, front, buttocks, private parts, thighs and legs. I was taken to the theatre to remove thorns from my feet.

They came several times threatening me. After about 3 days they came during the night and assaulted me with open hands and fists forcing me to surrender MDC cards and to rejoin Zanu (PF). I could not recognise them because they were many. I believe that they were the people who were camped at Mataga Night Club where they were being led by Biggie Chitoro, Elias Masenda and several others.

I was abducted from Mberengwa for being an MDC supporter and held at Texas Farm where Biggie Chitoro was in charge. I was forced into demeaning behaviour and to work for no pay.

Fainos and his brother were abducted from their home at Danga in Masaga village on Sunday, 4 June 2000 with two others after being tortured with sticks, fists and open hands. They were forced to swim in the Mundi River before being tortured with sticks, whips, fists and boots. Afterwards, they were forced to march to Texas Ranch. They were interrogated and tortured with sticks, iron bars and booted feet for four days, the last three by Biggie Chitoro, at Texas Farm. They were released on Wednesday but Fainos was unable to walk upon his release. The victims managed to reach the home of Mfandaidza (and the late Byron) Hove, where Fainos died two days later on 9 June. The ZRP took his body for a post-mortem.

After testifying about her husband’s death, Mavis Tapera told the Court about her own torture on 4 June 2000. Assailants led by ‘Biggie’ Chitoro ordered her out of her house at night and used a knife to cut off her petticoat. At this point she was clad in only her pants. They began to assault her with logs, concentrating on the buttocks. She testified that one of the assailants asked her if MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai bought her the pants she was wearing. Her attackers then forced an iron rod into her genitals and ordered her to imitate sexual positions. Breaking down numerous times on the witness stand, Mrs Tapera testified that the ordeal was extremely painful but she was forced to continue. She then was taken to Texas Farm with her husband but was returned the same night. When her assailants returned her to her homestead, they urinated into a cup and forced her to drink from it. She told the court that one of the assailants threatened to force her to eat his stool if she refused.

Kidnapped from home, handcuffed, interrogated and assaulted with sticks and iron bars for 5 days at Texas Farm.

Hands and feet bound, whipped, kicked, beaten with sjamboks; stripped naked; burned on back, crotch and stomach with lighted plastic; Sekai Holland’s Toyota Hilux torched; admitted to Bulawayo United Hospital, unable to talk as a result of his injuries.

I was brutally assaulted by 30 Zanu (PF) youths that were armed with chains, sticks, sjamboks and iron bars. They were lead by Foloma, Clifford Donsa and Jamela. The also used open hands, clenched fists and booted feet to assault me. I sustained multiple injuries including head injuries. This incident was witnessed by the police who watched from a safe distance of about 50m.

T.M. was a Zanu (PF) supporter before he defected to the MDC. He was accused of being a sell-out and was then subjected to severe beating. This attack was made in front of Joram Gumbo, then the incumbent MP for Mberengwa West who did not do anything to stop or restrain the Zanu (PF) supporters. On Tuesday 23 May at midnight a group of 25 Zanu (PF) supporters attacked T.M. again. They dragged him out of his house and assaulted him using logs and various other hard and sharp objects. In the attack he lost $1500 that was in his pocket. T.M. can identify his assailants as Lyford Nkomo, Langton Mangena, Festo Jamela, Handsome Dube and Davison Matutu.

On 23 June T.M went to Rwavamutange where he was supposed to be the MDC polling agent. As he boarded off the bus he was ambushed by a group of Zanu (PF) supporters who assaulted him using chains, sjamboks, knobkerries and various other hard and sharp objects. He sustained bruises all over his body and his kidneys were damaged. On 24 June he was taken to White Hospital in Zvishavane and on 26 June he was admitted at the Avenues Clinic in Harare. T.M can identify Absent Foloma as the leader of the group that attacked him in Rwavamutange.

They met me at Mataga and accused me of being and MDC supporter. They said that I needed re-education. I was forced to lie down and was beaten with sticks. I was forced to join their operation and told my home would be burnt if I absconded. Other had had their homes burnt. I was forced to chant Zanu (PF) slogans and beat MDC supporters. L. M. identified Absent Foloma and Langton Mangena as his assailants.

Elizabeth Tati and Babara Mavhingire testified that they were both raped by Francis Ncube at Texas Ranch, a war veteran base and torture centre. Mrs Tati testified that she was abducted by Zanu (PF) youth on 4 June 2000. She was taken to Texas Ranch and handed over to Ncube. There, Ncube brandished a gun and told Mrs Tati that he would kill her if she refused to sleep with him. Mrs Mavhingire testified that she was also raped at gunpoint by Ncube on the same night as Mrs Tati. Both were forced to chant ZANU (PF) slogans and denounce MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai on the way to the torture centre. Ncube allegedly told Mrs Mavhingire that it was useless to report the incident to the police because he was a war veteran. He said the government belonged to the war veterans and that nothing would be done to him. She proceeded to the Zvishavane police station where she was prepared to make a report but Ncube arrived before she could do so. She did not make a report for fear of further victimization.

"We wanted to conduct a meeting in Shurugwi Park but were surrounded by Zanu (PF) youths and war veterans and attacked with slashers, sticks, catapults and axes. I sustained bruises on my right shoulder." Had his MDC t-shirt confiscated by a "General Nduku" in front of police officers. "I identified Sakahowa."

A group lead by Lovemore Peter Sakahowa came to his house singing revolutionary songs and banging doors. C.N. was not at home. Lost 10 steel pipes. They came several times thereafter threatening the whole family with death. The group included Gift, Sam Huranda, Peter ‘Danida’ Moyo, Tofarasei and several others. They used to come armed with spears, knives and knobkerries, bows, arrows and catapults. He had to relocate to Gweru from until after the elections. He would sometimes return but they would come and camp at his house. This forced him to transfer his children to schools in Chachacha and Gokwe.

More than 100 Zanu (PF) supporters led by Blessed Mapako beat her . She sustained injuries on the left side of her head. Here she received 8 stitches. On her left palm she received two stitches and also some her right thigh.

I was attacked by Mapako, Simango and Daniel Sibanda. My MDC shirt was torn and my ZPTWU t-shirt, ZCTU badges and driver's license were stolen. I was severely assaulted and sustained a head wound which required 13 stitches, left eyebrow gash - 4 stitches. I also sustained a cracked right wrist and broken left tibia. I spent three months out of work as a result of injuries sustained during the beating.

I was pierced with a sharp screwdriver in my left ribs and kicked under the chin with heavy boots. I was kicked on the head when I fell down. The assailants were Blessed Mapako, Simango, Chinyoka and Daniel Sibanda.