News / National
US on abducted Zim Activist
11 Mar 2015 at 14:27hrs | Views
The United States Embassy in Harare has expressed deep concern over the disappearance of journalist and civil Society activist Itai Dzamara saying the police should professionally investigate his shock disappearance.
Dzamara shot to fame last year when he stated Occupy Unit Square protests in Harare.
On Tuesday, Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed Dzamara's abduction, saying police were handling the matter.
In a statement this afternoon, the embassy said if Dzamara is in a state custody, it is vital that his fundamental human rights and freedoms as guaranteed by Zimbabwe's constitution be honored.
"The U.S. Embassy notes with grave concern the reports of the forced disappearance of civil society activist Itai Dzamara on March 9, 2015. We support Mr. Dzamara's right to freedom of expression and to demonstrate peacefully.
"We urge the relevant authorities to demonstrate their professionalism by fully investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr. Dzamara's abduction. If he is being held in state custody, it is vital that his fundamental human rights and freedoms as guaranteed by Zimbabwe's constitution be honored.
NewsDay reported that Dzamara was at the MDC-T rally on Saturday where he gave a solidarity speech supporting calls for action and mass protests.
Several rights organisations yesterday called for the immediate release of Dzamara.
Heal Zimbabwe said the abduction of Dzamara was a direct violation of the Constitution which guaranteed freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Social media was awash with campaigns to bring back Dzamara yesterday with lawyers saying they had filed an urgent habeas corpus application to compel whoever is holding Dzamara to bring him before the court so as to determine if he should really be in detention.
Dzamara shot to fame last year when he stated Occupy Unit Square protests in Harare.
On Tuesday, Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed Dzamara's abduction, saying police were handling the matter.
In a statement this afternoon, the embassy said if Dzamara is in a state custody, it is vital that his fundamental human rights and freedoms as guaranteed by Zimbabwe's constitution be honored.
"The U.S. Embassy notes with grave concern the reports of the forced disappearance of civil society activist Itai Dzamara on March 9, 2015. We support Mr. Dzamara's right to freedom of expression and to demonstrate peacefully.
"We urge the relevant authorities to demonstrate their professionalism by fully investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr. Dzamara's abduction. If he is being held in state custody, it is vital that his fundamental human rights and freedoms as guaranteed by Zimbabwe's constitution be honored.
NewsDay reported that Dzamara was at the MDC-T rally on Saturday where he gave a solidarity speech supporting calls for action and mass protests.
Several rights organisations yesterday called for the immediate release of Dzamara.
Heal Zimbabwe said the abduction of Dzamara was a direct violation of the Constitution which guaranteed freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Social media was awash with campaigns to bring back Dzamara yesterday with lawyers saying they had filed an urgent habeas corpus application to compel whoever is holding Dzamara to bring him before the court so as to determine if he should really be in detention.
Source - Byo24News
