via Government clueless on Dzamara’s whereabouts — Minister – NewsDay Zimbabwe September 26, 2015
GOVERNMENT on Wednesday said it still had no clue over the whereabouts of missing journalist-cum-human rights activist Itai Dzamara, almost seven months after he was allegedly abducted by suspected State security agents near his Glen View home in Harare.
BY VENERANDA LANGA
Responding to opposition legislators’ demand for a progress report on Dzamara’s case, Home Affairs deputy minister Obedingwa Mguni simply told Parliament: “It is work in progress.”
Civic society groups, opposition parties and diplomats have, over the past six months, been piling pressure on the government to step up its efforts to establish Dzambara’s whereabouts.
A fortnight ago the European Union warned it would be impossible for Zimbabwe to achieve sustainable peace, development and prosperity without government’s respect for human rights.
Several foreign embassies in Harare also made similar calls, saying the government should account for Dzamara with opposition parties claiming that State security agents were behind his alleged abduction.
Dzamara crossed swords with Zanu PF after he launched his solo campaign to push President Robert Mugabe out of office over government’s failures.
He was arrested and beaten by anti-riot police on different occasions, but he continued demonstrating and petitioning Mugabe to leave office.
His wife Sheffra claimed the activist was abducted on March 9 in Glen View after two twin-cab trucks were seen continuously roving around the vicinity of their house on March 5.
On March 9, he was “arrested” for allegedly stealing cattle and has not been located since then.
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