Mapping terror

On March 29th 2008 Zimbabweans went to the polls and changed history. For the first time since Independence in 1980, the Zanu PF party lost its majority in parliament and Robert Mugabe lost the Presidential vote. The regime immediately embarked on a campaign of violence and reprisal attacks against the civilian population. This map aims to reveal the scale of these attacks and it identifies perpetrator groups. In addition to this map, we ask that you visit our image gallery to see the images we have collated so far on incidents of political violence since March 29th 2008.

Legend

	Zanu PF Youth Militia: Responsible for a great deal of the violence in Zimbabwe, the youth militia are also known locally as the 'Green Bombers'.
	'War Veterans' These are ostensibly people who fought during Zimbabwe's liberation struggle; however, a lot of the 'war veterans' are clearly far too young to have been active in the military at that time. The 'war veterans' became well known during the farm invasions when the Zanu PF government claimed they had spontaneously decided to take the land for themselves. In fact, most of those events were orchestrated by the government.
	Zanu PF supporters
	Violence perpetrated mostly by Zanu PF: This icon indicates a mixed group of perpetrators where the testimony suggests that most of the violence or intimidation was at the hands of one of the Zanu PF groupings (supporters, youth militia or war veterans)
	Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA)
	Primarily the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA): This icon indicates a mixed group of perpetrators where the testimony suggests that the violence or intimidation was primarily at the hands of the ZNA, or that it was coordinated or directed by the ZNA.
	Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) - uniformed: Members of the policeforce wearing a uniform.
	Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) - plainclothes: Members of the policeforce in plainclothes.
	Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) - riot police: The riot police.
	Primarily the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP): This icon indicates a mixed group of perpetrators where the testimony suggests that the violence or intimidation was primarily at the hands of the ZRP, or that it was coordinated or directed by the ZRP.
	Criminal Investigation Departement (CID)
	Primarily Criminal Investigation Departement (CID): This icon indicates a mixed group of perpetrators where the testimony suggests that the violence or intimidation was primarily at the hands of the CID, or that it was coordinated or directed by the CID.
	Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO)
	Primarily Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO): This icon indicates a mixed group of perpetrators where the testimony suggests that the violence or intimidation was primarily at the hands of the CIO, or that it was coordinated or directed by the CIO.
	Unknown: The victims are unsure of, or didn't say, or don't know who the perpetrator was.