Abducted Zimbabwe Protest Leader's Wife Demands Release of Husband Itai Dzamara
Mrs. Dzamara told Studio 7’s Blessing Zulu in an interview that Itai should be brought home alive.
WASHINGTON DC — Sheffra Dzamara, the wife of ‘abducted’ Occupy Africa Unity Square leader, Itai Dzamara, says she wants her husband back home alive following his disappearance in Harare on Monday. Mrs. Dzamara told Studio 7’s Blessing Zulu in an interview she hopes that his abductors won’t harm him. She said her husband has been under constant police surveillance, noting that she has already reported the alleged abduction at the Harare Central Police Station. “I know that she was being followed by the CIO (Central Intelligence Organization operatives). They are the ones that abducted him,” said Mrs. Dzamara. Responding, police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner, Charity Charamba, said police are now investigating the alleged disappearance of Dzamara. She told Studio 7 that there is no further information at this time. But a docket has been opened under RRB number 2391750. Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has filed an urgent habeas corpus application to compel whoever is holding Dzamara to bring him before the courts so as to determine if he should really be in detention. Lawyer, Dzimbabwe Chimbgwa, told VOA Studio 7’s that they are waiting for the court to respond to their application. Pressure is mounting on the police to find activist Dzamara. Zimbabweans took to Twitter, Facebook and other social media networks to condemn the alleged abduction. Washington-based human rights group, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Centre president, Kerry Kennedy, said, “This behavior by Zimbabwe’s police and security forces is reprehensible ... in an ideal world, President Mugabe, as chairman of the African Union, would set a good example for the rest of the region when it comes to human rights. Sadly, he has done the opposite.” Santiago A. Canton, executive director of RFK partners for human rights added that “yesterday’s abduction of Itai Dzamara is the latest violation of Zimbabwe’s new constitution, which guarantees the freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” European Union ambassador to Zimbabwe, Phillipe van Damme, told Studio 7’s Blessing Zulu that the 28-member bloc is worried by the alleged abduction. Van Damme though said he is in Belgium and is not in a position to comment any further on the case. Amid growing fear for the safety of abducted journalist and pro-democracy activist, Amnesty International is calling on the Zimbabwe government to immediately investigate and ensure his safety. “The abduction of Itai Dzamara is deeply alarming. The Zimbabwean authorities, especially the police, must urgently institute a search operation and do all within their power to ensure his safe return. There must be a full and thorough investigation into his abduction, with those responsible brought to justice,” said Noel Kututwa, Amnesty International Southern Africa’s Deputy Director for Research.