Dzamara's family hopeful he is alive

The family of the missing human rights activist Itai Dzamara remains hopeful that the father of two will return unscathed.

Dzamara was abducted by unknown people on Monday last week and has been missing since then.

The activist had been holding peaceful demonstrations demanding that President Robert Mugabe leaves office for failing to address the concerns of the people of Zimbabwe.

The demonstrations were running under the banner Occupy Africa Unity Square.

According to the Standard, Itai's brother, Patson said the family was not opposed to his path (activism), as he had the democratic right to pursue it but had reservations about his safety.

Patson said he is still hopeful that one day he will meet his brother but also indicated that 'the worst is a possibility because knowing him, he is outspoken and unless they take his brains out he will continue doing whatever he was doing. We are praying against the worst.'

Patson said as a family, they were thankful to those who were giving out solidarity messages but added that there were some who still thought his disappearance was stage-managed to give Dzamara political mileage.

The High Court ordered State organs to intensify the search for Dzamara after his wife approached the courts saying there was strong suspicion that he was abducted by State security agents.

His wife, Sheffra Dzamara said up to yesterday they were still clueless about Itai's whereabouts but he said the ZRP was being cooperative and doing their best to investigate.

Dzamara spoke at the rally where he called for mass action to unseat Mugabe.