The refugees were mainly from rural Zimbabwe. They are members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Except for those who are from Bulawayo, a majority of the asylum seekers are from villagers along the Botswana-Zimbabwe border. A majority of the fugitives do not bear any physical signs of assault but say their relatives and friends did not escape the wave of violence perpetrated by the so-called war veterans and pro-ZANU-PF diehards. Some of them said they are lucky to have escaped to Botswana. A young asylum seeker said what they need is protection.
The Zimbabweans want the international community to know their predicament and come to their rescue. They said talking to the media back home can result in the death of a whole family. One of them said they fled after a tip that their names had been handed over to the war veterans who continue to unleash terror in the rural areas where ZANUPF has been uprooted from what it has always considered its stronghold.
