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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Post-election violence 2008 - Index of articles & images
Cases
of Post Election Violence Continue to Escalate
Zimbabwe
Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR)
April 18, 2008
ZADHR issued
a statement on April 15th
concerning 157 cases of organised violence and torture (OVT) documented
by members of the association. As of end of day April 17th this
total is now 242. Forty-two cases were seen and treated on April
the 17th alone; six of these were women, one a boy of 12. Of the
42, 19 of the incidents occurred in Mashonaland East (Murehwa, Mutoko,
Mudzi and Maramba) and a further 19 in or near Harare (Dzivarasekwa,
Kuwadzana, Tafara, Budiriro, Glen Norah, Epworth and Chitungwiza).
Most of these cases continue
to be of soft tissue injury, especially of the buttocks but often
in other parts of the body including the breast of women. The extreme
force of the injuries is demonstrated by the common occurrence of
superficial blistering and deep, sometimes extensive, haematoma
formation. Haematomas are substantive collections of whole blood,
as distinct from "simple" bruising which is blood in
amongst other tissues.
In 15 of the cases of
soft tissue injury, there were documented "tram tracks"
on the overlying skin. This is a classic sign of assault with a
hard thin object such as a stick or baton. Three more cases had
fractures of the forearm or hand (right ulna, left radius and ulna,
two left metacarpals). The patient with fractured right ulna also
sustained fractures of ribs on the left side of his chest associated
with a left haemothorax (blood in the space between the lungs and
the chest wall).
There have been reports
of several deaths but because these do not usually present to ZADHR
members, only one case (of multiple stab wounds to the chest and
abdomen) can be confirmed. This was a brother of a patient from
Karoi, previously reported as having been admitted to hospital in
Harare.
ZADHR remains deeply
concerned that no measures are being taken by the authorities to
prevent further violence and by allegations that security forces
are now increasingly involved in assaults and torture, particularly
in Harare.
These cases suggest a
disturbing trend of systematic violent assault and torture, and
with more victims possibly unable to access medical attention in
rural areas, urgent action is required to prevent the situation
deteriorating further. It is essential that the United Nations,
African Union and SADC take urgent and decisive steps to engage
the Zimbabwean authorities and all stakeholders to end this crisis.
ZADHR reiterates its
call for an end to violence by all political parties and the security
forces.
Visit the ZADHR
fact
sheet
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