An unprecedented explosion of state-sponsored violence broke out amid charges of massive vote-rigging before voting begins today in two crucial parliamentary byelections.
Hundreds of tortured and severely injured supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) flooded Harare's hospitals this week. They told of vicious beatings, electric shocks and cigarette burns inflicted by uniformed army officers and other supporters of President Robert Mugabe.
Two women charged they were raped by army men using the barrels of their rifles. Doctors confirm serious injuries consistent with the accounts of torture.
At least one man has died and 500 others have been injured, according to the MDC. The government denies the charges.
"Two armoured trucks came at about 1am and about 20 soldiers in uniforms broke into our house," said Margaret Kulinji, 32, an MDC official.
"They started beating my mother, an old woman who doesn't know anything about politics. They beat me with the cord of my iron. They forced my mother's legs open and sexually abused her with an AK-47 rifle. They burned me with cigarettes. It was terrible."
Mrs Kulinji, her mother and her brother are all recuperating in hospital. Mrs Kulinji said her mother, who was visibly distressed, was depressed and talked of suicide.
Doctors in casualty wards said they have never seen such severe injuries. "Victims show similar injuries: fractures, deep lacerations, severe bruising. They give similar accounts of soldiers inflicting the violence. They picked out local leaders of the MDC. This is a new human rights emergency," said one doctor.
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