Criminal abductors are never arrested in Zimbabwe - ZLHR

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has bemoaned failure by the state to arrest suspects in numerous cases of kidnapping or abduction of political and human rights activists even in cases where the victims are later recovered and can positively identify the culprits.

The concerns come at a time when the nation is still pondering on the where about of a journalist and democracy activist Itai Dzamara who was allegedly abducted on March 9 in Harare and since then he is still not known where he is.

ZLHR communication officers Kumbirai Mafunda said he spent the greater morning of Friday 26 June 2015, which is International Day in Support of Victims of Torture with survivors of state-sanctioned abduction and torture Sekuru Fidelis Chiramba, Baba Emmanuel Chinanzvavana, Honourable Consilia Chinazvavana at the Anglican Cathedral in Harare.

"The three were abducted and tortured in October 2008 for allegedly plotting to unseat President Robert Mugabe's adminisitration. Sekuru Chiramba was heavily assaulted and subjected to beatings on the soles of his feet. He was put into a deep freezer, then removed, had his clothes taken off and hot water was poured over his genitals. He was made to parade naked in front of female abductees and his physical build was mocked by his captors," he said.

"It is amazing that Consilia has overcome such challenges and now serves as a legislator in Parliament. Seven years later, the people who disappeared and tortured the three together with close to a dozen other human and political activists have not been apprehended and held accountable for committing such a heinous crime. Anyway, this is Zimbabwe, we would be expecting much."

He thanked the organisers of the commemorations, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Zimbabwe for showing recognition on those who experienced the abductions and those who are still not found.