SCORES of people yesterday gathered at the African Unity Square demanding the return of missing activist, Itai Dzamara, with his wife, Sheffra, making an impassioned plea to the government to release him.
Source: Protesters demand Dzamara return – NewsDay Zimbabwe August 11, 2016
BY OBEY MANAYITI
The protest kicked off with placard-waving protesters, among them children, offering flowers to police officers, as a sign of peace.
Although police refused to accept the flowers, they were, however, not hostile, as they maintained their distance, as speakers denounced abductions.
Dzamara was abducted 17 months ago by suspected State security agents, and his wife told the protesters that life without him was unbearable.
“Today we are commemorating Itai, who has been missing for the past 17 months. This is very painful to me because I don’t know his whereabouts and what really happened to him. It’s so painful when children ask about him daily,” she said.
“I want to tell his abductors that if they cannot return Itai, they should just explain what happened to him and explain why they abducted him in the first place.”
Dzamara’s brother, Patson, said the government must be exposed for doing evil deeds.
“We have information of what happened to Itai, we know. In due time, we are going to tell the world and expose (President Robert) Mugabe because he is the one who presided over his abduction,” Patson said.
Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) director, Jestina Mukoko, a survivor of abduction by the State, said she understood the pain Dzamara’s family felt.
She insisted that those who abducted him should come out in the open and explain.
“It’s a right for Itai’s children to know where their father is. It’s important for Dzamara’s family to know his whereabouts, whether he was killed or not. They need closure. I talk to Sheffra a lot and I know she is going through a very painful moment,” Mukoko said.
Former Zanu PF activist, Acie Lumumba warned companies operating in Zimbabwe against sponsoring Zanu PF.
“We want to send a clear message to companies that sponsor this organisation, through birthday celebrations, parties or any other gatherings, that they should stop forthwith,” he said.
National Vendors’ Union of Zimbabwe chairperson, Stern Zvorwadza said police needed to respect people’s rights. He said, as citizens, they had a mandate to teach them love following their gesture of giving them flowers.
COMMENTS
Former Zanu PF activist, Acie Lumumba warned companies operating in Zimbabwe against sponsoring Zanu PF.
I agree, with Lumumba for once. Yes, either you are with the people or with the devil and against the people. Don’t say you were not warned when people-power takes down together with the devil should you choose to continue worshiping & dinning with the devil. Surely, the devil will run for cover one day as people-power asserts its rightful authority. Where will you stand as the devil scurries for cover? In any case, people may even decide to deal with you before the devil is demise. Yes, yes, yes, we can decide to deal with you even before the devil’s time is up. Yes we can do it.
The day is soon that the squealing will start! It will be like listening to piglets being castrated, and we will see all the finger pointing and wailing ” I em noort thee waaan!, Hee toll me to keel heem !, Iye em soo sooorrry !” We will need a hangman, and the line will be long!