In a new report, Human Rights Watch shows how the failure of Zimbabwe's government to investigate and prosecute politically motivated abductions, killings, and torture since the 2008 elections is fueling further violence and human rights violations.

Zimbabwe is expected to hold elections this year, and we are concerned about possible violence during that period. Many of the people who committed serious crimes during the 2008 elections continue to live in the same communities with – and sometimes next door to – their victims.

During the 2008 elections, the government, led by Mugabe’s ruling party, was responsible for abuses that led to the killing of up to 200 people, the beating and torture of 5,000 more, and the displacement of about 36,000 people. But complaints have largely been ignored by the police or have stalled in the courts. The government's failure to punish the attackers only emboldens those intent on committing politically motivated violence and torture.