NGOs offer reward for details on Dzamara

via NGOs offer reward for details on Dzamara – NewZimbabwe 05 April 2015

AS pressure mounts on the state to act on the disappearance of journalist and human rights activist, Itai Dzamara, a coalition of NGOs says it is planning to introduce a reward for anyone with information on the missing scribe.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition said they were also going to start mobilising citizens to demonstrate against Dzamara’s continued disappearance.

Nixon Nyikadzino, a programs manager with the consortium of civil society organisations, said:

“We are very soon going to introduce a reward to anyone with information pointing to Dzamara’s whereabouts, and the person will be protected because we know that people might be afraid of disclosing who took him,” said Nyikadzino.

He told NewZimbabwe.com that they will not rest until government found Dzamara.

“We are left with no option but to go in our numbers to government and demand that they must release Dzamara.

“Plans are underway and very soon you are going to see masses flocking the streets, demonstrating against this unfortunate situation”.

Nyikadzino said currently there were organisations helping Dzamara’s family with food donations.

“This is not sustainable; we need him to be released so that he fends for his family. His family is suffering and they need him. The nation needs Dzamara and his courage, and it is high time government should swallow its pride and bring him back.”

Dzamara was abducted by suspected state security agents from his Glenview home area on 9 March and has not been heard from since.

Prior to his disappearance, Dzamara staged a series of peaceful protests against President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF government.

Following his abduction, human rights lawyers approached the High Court seeking an order compelling government to search for the rights activist.

On Saturday, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said they were planning to sue government for refusing to search and bring Dzamara back.