ZADHR statement
April 3rd 2003
The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights notes with great concern, and condemns the upsurge of violence of the last ten days of March. The violence immediately followed and is seen as a response to a largely peaceful two day stayaway throughout the country on Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th March.

In Harare alone, more than 250 victims of violence have been seen and treated at the Emergency Departments in the City. More than 30 required admission for severe injuries, some requiring orthopaedic surgery. All the victims examined had physical injuries consistent with the histories given, which were of severe beatings and torture. To date about 200 people are known still to be in police custody, many with untreated injuries. Some of those tortured were electrocuted using wires attached to parts of the body, including the genitalia. Two women were assaulted with a rifle in their vaginas.

Nearly all, but not all the victims were active members of the opposition party - the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Most were assaulted at night in their homes by people dressed in the uniform of the Zimbabwean National Army. Others were assaulted by the youth militia.

ZADHR calls on the Government of Zimbabwe to ensure that such extreme violence stops forthwith, that the perpetrators be brought to justice, and asks concerned people and groups outside the country to make their opinions on these matters known to the Government.