via ZimRights calls on government to end forced disappearances – NewsDay Zimbabwe September 1, 2015 by Tatenda Chitagu
THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has called on government to end the “culture of forced disappearances” targeting critics and human rights activists.
The call comes as Zimbabwe, on Sunday, joined the world in commemorating the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
The commemorations are held annually on August 30.
In a statement yesterday, ZimRights spokesperson, Vivid Gwede called for the release of missing journalist and human rights activist, Itai Dzamara, who was allegedly abducted in Harare by suspected State security agents on March 9 this year.
“The government of Zimbabwe accepted in one of the 177 recommendations by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council under the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in March 2012 to ratify international treaties,” Gwede said.
“Thus, the government must ratify the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances.
The government of Zimbabwe must also clearly outlaw this primitive practice in statutes.
“This is also in line with what UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, this year, urged members States to do.
ZimRights will continue to speak out against the culture of enforced disappearances in the country and for the general progressive improvement of the national human rights culture.”
Other activists that have disappeared without trace include Paul Chizuze and Patrick Nabanyama, among others, who have been missing for several years.
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