MatabelelandReport

REPORT ON THE 1980S DISTURBANCES IN MATABELELAND AND THE MIDLANDS
Compiled by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe, March 1997
PART THREE: ORGANISED VIOLENCE:
THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE 1980s DISTURBANCES
FOR ITS VICTIMS
A.Definitions of organised violence
B.Forms of organised violence.
1.)Physical torture
2.)Deprivation
3.)Sensory overstimulation
4.)Psychological torture - general
5.)Psychological torture - witnessing of violence
6.)Psychological torture - Disappearances
C.Consequences of organised violence
1.)Physical consequences
2.)Psychological consequences
D.Consequences of organised violence for society.
E.Relevance to Matabeleland - conclusion
It is difficult to estimate the costs of the epidemic violence of the 1980s. Costs must be measured in physical injuries,
psychological disorders, economic damage and social pathology. Some of these costs, such as the medical consequences
of physical injury, can be estimated, at the least by inference and comparison.
Psychological disorder can be also be estimated, as there is already a reasonably extensive literature on the effects of
organised violence. The following chapter of this report (Legal Damages), makes some attempt to indicate the economic
costs of the 1980s disturbances. There are, however, very few indications that social pathology can be easily measured.
As indicated in the previous chapters, the scale of violence was very large, and involved large numbers of people. The
experiences reported by these people can be categorised, and it is the aim of this chapter to put the effects of the
reported violence into a more human perspective.
Firstly, for each type of torture, we will begin with a definition and some examples, as these are necessary, both for a
clear understanding of the forensic approach involved, and for an interpretation of the reports from Matabeleland. Then
we will look at a specific testimony from the 1980s disturbances illustrating the given category of torture.
Once we have gone through the six main categories of torture in this way, we will make some general observations
about the physical and psychological consequences of organised violence, and of the likely situation now in
Matabeleland for survivors. We will not attempt to quantify any of the categories for the 1980s, as this would be
inappropriate in the absence of direct clinical measurement. We will, however, comment upon the likely prevalence of
disorders, since direct comparison with other local and regional samples is possible. We will conclude with some
suggestions for remediation of the ill-effects. Readers must bear in mind that the case testimonies which will be outlined
in this chapter are merely illustrative, not conclusive evidence for any proposition.
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