Family, Churches to Hold Prayer Rally for 'Abducted' Itai Dzamara
Dr. Patson Dzamara, the brother of Itai, said the family is yet to receive any updates from investigators about his disappearance.
WASHINGTON — The family of missing political activist and journalist, Itai Dzamara of Occupy Africa Unity Square, various churches, representatives of civil society organizations and opposition party leaders will this Sunday hold a prayer rally for the political activist at Zimbabwe Grounds. Dzamara disappeared 96 days ago, on March 9, and government and police have professed ignorance over his whereabouts. Dr. Patson Dzamara, the brother of Itai, said the family is yet to receive any updates from investigators. “We have not had any formal engagement whatsoever with the government and the same applies for the police, we only engaged them at the initial stages of this saga,” said Dzamara. He added that whatever the police had gathered, if anything, they have not approached the family with any new information. After Itai's disappearance, High Court judge David Mangota ordered the state to look for him and ensure his safe return to his family. In a statement released Wednesday by the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe, the EU said it is increasingly concerned about lack of progress made by authorities in the case. It said Zimbabweans authorities are obligated to provide regular and thorough progress reports on the political activist's disappearance, as ordered by the High Court. “The EU once again reiterates its call on the Government of Zimbabwe to take all necessary measures to ascertain Mr. Dzamara’s whereabouts, safeguard his wellbeing and according him the full protection of the law, within its overall responsibilities of ensuring the safety of all its citizens.” Dr. Dzamara said as for the Sunday rally is meant to bring people together for prayers and put pressure on the government to find him.