History
Mr N.N. has been a civil rights leader in X district for the past three years. On 13 May at midnight he was at home asleep with his wife and child. He heard a knock at the door and was told to come out by a voice that he recognised. Upon opening the door he saw about 20 armed men with axes, knobkerries, iron bars and pistols. He was able to identify one of them who was a war veteran and neighbour. He tried to close the door but it was chopped down with axes.

The assailants threatened to throw petrol on his house so he told them to let his wife and child go. A Shona speaking man told him to step outside while they searched the house for MDC cards. He was told that his wife would die but others among the attackers felt pity for the child who would become an orphan and thinks he was spared for this reason. When he stepped out they asked him to lie down whereupon he was beaten with branches with thorns on them. He was also beaten under the feet and has many thorns in his legs. Another man tried to axe him, when he asked why this was being done to him there was no answer. They took him 200 metres away and started to beat him on the chest and head with a knobkerrie, then he passed out. He estimates that this took place over a span of 3 hours.

He was left for dead. When he recovered consciousness he realised he had been beaten all over the body. He went to his house and saw that all the doors had been broken. People in the area had identified him as the MDC Chairman. They also beat another man with him when he was being assaulted but this man was not beaten seriously. He cannot go back home, as the perpetrators have not been caught by the police. The police have been friendly and are investigating the incident. The man who axed him is in custody. However there were problems with the police statement which did not indicate the identity of his assailants whereas he had stated that they were ZANU PF.

While at the local in hospital his leg was put in plaster and he received stitches to his head, however he was only attended to by medical students and the male nurse at that hospital who is a war veteran and alleged torturer at the Hunzvi clinic in Harare has threatened the hospital staff (Commander Boyd Ndlhovu). The medical report similarly stated that he was assaulted by unidentified assailants. He is taking legal action and is currently living with parents in law although he feels concerned for their safety. Since the incident he met a businessman who threatened to chop his head off and has given the name of this man to the police. On 31/05 people told his agent as he is now standing in the forthcoming elections as a candidate that they would break his other leg. He telephoned the police but they never showed up.

Previous medical history:
In good health prior to torture. Never hospitalised.

Psychological torture:
Threats, including death threats, and threats to kill spouse and son

Physical torture:
Unsystematic beating all over (using axe handle, sticks, thorned branches, metallic wire and sjamboks);
Falanga (using thorny branches)

Subjective Complaints
Pain in the right wrist and lower left leg, anxiety

Objective Physical Findings
According to medical report after the assault:

• Regio ventralis: echymosis, 12 - 15 cm

• Regio gluteae: echymosis, 15 - 20 cm

• Right wrist fractured

• Lower left leg fractured

Examination by IRCT team:

• Regio occipitalis: alopecia metatraumetica 10 - 15 cm, with scar 3 - 4 cm in the centre

• Regio tibialis sin: open dorsum from dorsum manus to elbow, infected ulcer 2 - 3 cm

• Regio plantaris dxt: 5 scars, 1 - 1½-2 cm

• Plaster of Paris on right wrist and left lower leg, pain from toes to knee

Objective Psychological Findings
Obviously in pain; depressed, easily moved.