They call it Operation Mavhoterapapi, or ‘where you put your X’. And they are marauding through rural Zimbabwe thrashing, torturing and even killing. This, they say, is retribution for voting against Mugabe and Zanu (PF) on March 29. It is also a campaign designed to terrify people into voting their way in any 
 “They burned grass on my hands”. The scorched, bleeding and broken hands of a 22-year-old from Musaruro Village in Mudzi. He says: ” The Zanu (PF) youths came to my shop on Friday at 9pm, broke the door down and dragged me out of the building. They said I was an MDC member. They took all the groceries from my shop then burned grass on both my hands. After that they beat my hands and back with wooden poles. I went to Kotwa rural district hospital and they gave me two paracetamol – they had nothing else.” 
The badly swollen and lacerated foot of a Chivaka villager who was beaten with poles. 
Stoned and beaten with logs, this kraal head from Zimuto, Masvingo lost two teeth and sustained fractured ribs. His attackers accused him of encouraging people to vote for the MDC.
“Zanu (PF) youths came to my house on Friday and started to hit me with firewood and kick me in the mouth. They beat me on my buttocks, left arm and hand. I know who they were. They said: “Why are you supporting MDC? We promise you we are here to vandalise you”.
A passenger on a bus reported seeing a man being hanged by his hands from a tree at Corner Store, between Muhrewa and Mutoko on Sunday. A group was beating him.
Reports of horrific injuries flood in
More than 500 farm workers displaced in Mutasa South and Chipinge (Tanganda and Southdown Holdings) following invasions by so-called war veterans
Pictures have flooded in showing the injuries sustained by adults and children from Chivaka Village in Mudzi, where they were beaten on their buttocks with poles. Recorded injuries include broken bones, fractures, lacerations and deep tissue bruising. The lead doctor in the area has been removed and the hospital is said to be unable to cope.
A 36-year-old from Baradzi Village, Masvingo was dragged out of his house by a Zanu (PF) gang, whose members insisted he take them to the houses of other MDC members. He refused and was beaten with iron bars and logs of wood. He slept the night in the bush and then found his way to hospital.
Tapiwa Mbwada, MDC Organising Secretary for Hurungwe East, was beaten to death on Saturday night. His wife and brother were also badly beaten and are in a serious condition.
It has also been reported that a teacher in Mudzi has been murdered and eight women abducted.
The Mudzi and Mutoko area is bearing the brunt of the campaign of violence. There, homes are being burned. In one incident, thugs ransacked a man’s home and then burnt his chickens and goats alive.