Missing Dzamara abductors should be exposed - ZLHR

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) today said missing activists and journalist Itai Dzamara should be afforded his own right to truth, full reasons of his abduction, the exact identities of his abductors and any relevant details that will enable him to make informed decisions about his remedies.

Dzamara has been missing since March 9 amid widespread reports that he was abducted by state security agents.

In a statement to mark the International Day, the lawyers organisation said it  remains gravely concerned about the continued disappearance of Itai Dzamara, a pro-democracy activist who has been missing for the last 16 days.

"Dzamara was abducted by some unidentified men from a barber-shop near his home in Glen Norah at around 11:00 hours on 9 March 2015 for yet to be established motives. The unmarked vehicle used during his abduction has been identified as a white Nissan Hardbody. He has remained missing since then. ZLHR reiterates that those responsible for disappearing Dzamara have committed a very serious crime under international law.

"There is currently a High Court order which obliges the Zimbabwe Republic Police to work closely and in conjunction with lawyers appointed by ZLHR to search for Itai Dzamara at all such places as may be within their jurisdiction in terms of the law and to report progress of such search to the Registrar of the High Court by 1600hours every Friday, fortnightly until his whereabouts have been determined" it said

As a member state to the United Nations, ZLHR calls on the government to take tangible measures to ensure that;

• The truth about the whereabouts of Dzamara is established and revealed as a matter of urgency;

• Those responsible for this serious human rights violations are held accountable;

• Once found, Dzamara is afforded his own right to truth - the full reasons of his abduction, the exact identities of his abductors, and any relevant details that will enable him to make informed decisions about his remedies.