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ZLHR remembers Dzamara 15 months after his abduction
10 Jun 2016 at 07:09hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights on Thursday remembered the abducted democracy activist Itai Dzamara as it was 15 months complete since his disappearance.
"TODAY (Thursday) marks 15 months since Itai Dzamara, a pro-democracy campaigner was abducted and disappeared in Harare's high-density suburb of Glen Norah on 9 March 2015," said ZLHR in a statement.
"On this day, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) stands in solidarity with the Dzamara family, friends of Itai Dzamara and other peace loving Zimbabweans that are agonising over the continued disappearance and failure to account for the whereabouts of the freelance journalist and pro-democracy campaigner, who has been missing for 15 months now."
ZLHR said a father of two children, Itai was abducted by some unidentified men from a barber-shop near his home in Harare's Glen Norah high density suburb on 9 March 2015 for yet to be established motives.
"Today, we send our message of support to Sheffra, Itai's wife, her two children Nokutenda and Nenyasha and the broader Dzamara family. ZLHR also stands in support of all other Zimbabweans including Paul Chizuze and Patrick Nabanyama, who remain missing since they were abducted and disappeared in 2000 and 2012," reads the statement.
"Although the cry to "Bring Back Itai" remains a national and worldwide cause, ZLHR is perturbed by reports that some pro-democracy campaigners picketing in Africa Unity Square, which has been renamed Itai Dzamara Square, were subjected to unwarranted harassment and attacked for taking a stand in demanding accountability for the whereabouts of Itai."
ZLHR said it remains very concerned that probe reports submitted by the Zimbabwe Republic Police from investigations conducted to establish the whereabouts of Itai Dzamara as ordered in March 2015 by High Court Judge Justice David Mangota show very little progress if at all.
"ZLHR condemns the lack of progress made in investigating the human rights violations highlighted by the abduction and enforced disappearance of Itai, Paul and Patrick and in punishing those responsible. Perpetrators of abduction and enforced disappearances are guilty of committing a heinous crime under international law," reads the statement. "The disappearance of these citizens signifies a flagrant violation of the most basic rights to life and liberty, the right to a family, to a community, to a decent work and many more. Perpetrators of abductions and enforced disappearances must understand that abduction and holding people incommunicado is an outdated, inhumane, and ultimately ineffective practice that ruins the lives of innocent people."
ZLHR said with so much time having elapsed since Itai, Patrick and Paul were abducted and disappeared, we cannot imagine the full extent of the horrors they have endured.
"But as an organisation committed to fostering a culture of human rights, ZLHR calls on Zimbabwean authorities to do more to bring the missing persons home.
It is difficult to accept that the government and all the powerful State security organs cannot account for the whereabouts of Itai, Paul and Patrick," reads the statement.
"Because every government has responsibilities over its citizens' lives, among which is to ensure them fundamental rights, ZLHR calls upon Zimbabwean authorities to do more in challenging the forces creating an unacceptable and unwarranted environment for fear and impunity to flourish in Zimbabwe through carrying out abductions and enforced disappearances."
ZLHR said as a member state to the UN and to end the barbaric practice of enforced disappearances, ZLHR calls on the government to take tangible measures to ensure that:
"The truth about the whereabouts of Nabanyama, Chizuze and Dzamara is established and revealed as a matter of urgency; Those responsible for these serious human rights violations are held accountable; Those disappeared and their families are afforded their own right to truth - the full reasons for their abduction, the exact identities of their abductors, and any relevant details that will enable them and members of their families to make informed decisions about their remedies," reads the statement.
"It ratifies, domesticates and implements provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances and the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and its Protocol to ensure full accountability of perpetrators and redress and rehabilitation to victims."
"Stop enforced disappearances now. Sign and ratify the convention now. Enact domestic laws criminality enforced disappearances. Truth and justice to all disappeared persons, their families, survivors and the whole of society now," ZLHR added.
"TODAY (Thursday) marks 15 months since Itai Dzamara, a pro-democracy campaigner was abducted and disappeared in Harare's high-density suburb of Glen Norah on 9 March 2015," said ZLHR in a statement.
"On this day, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) stands in solidarity with the Dzamara family, friends of Itai Dzamara and other peace loving Zimbabweans that are agonising over the continued disappearance and failure to account for the whereabouts of the freelance journalist and pro-democracy campaigner, who has been missing for 15 months now."
ZLHR said a father of two children, Itai was abducted by some unidentified men from a barber-shop near his home in Harare's Glen Norah high density suburb on 9 March 2015 for yet to be established motives.
"Today, we send our message of support to Sheffra, Itai's wife, her two children Nokutenda and Nenyasha and the broader Dzamara family. ZLHR also stands in support of all other Zimbabweans including Paul Chizuze and Patrick Nabanyama, who remain missing since they were abducted and disappeared in 2000 and 2012," reads the statement.
"Although the cry to "Bring Back Itai" remains a national and worldwide cause, ZLHR is perturbed by reports that some pro-democracy campaigners picketing in Africa Unity Square, which has been renamed Itai Dzamara Square, were subjected to unwarranted harassment and attacked for taking a stand in demanding accountability for the whereabouts of Itai."
ZLHR said it remains very concerned that probe reports submitted by the Zimbabwe Republic Police from investigations conducted to establish the whereabouts of Itai Dzamara as ordered in March 2015 by High Court Judge Justice David Mangota show very little progress if at all.
"ZLHR condemns the lack of progress made in investigating the human rights violations highlighted by the abduction and enforced disappearance of Itai, Paul and Patrick and in punishing those responsible. Perpetrators of abduction and enforced disappearances are guilty of committing a heinous crime under international law," reads the statement. "The disappearance of these citizens signifies a flagrant violation of the most basic rights to life and liberty, the right to a family, to a community, to a decent work and many more. Perpetrators of abductions and enforced disappearances must understand that abduction and holding people incommunicado is an outdated, inhumane, and ultimately ineffective practice that ruins the lives of innocent people."
ZLHR said with so much time having elapsed since Itai, Patrick and Paul were abducted and disappeared, we cannot imagine the full extent of the horrors they have endured.
"But as an organisation committed to fostering a culture of human rights, ZLHR calls on Zimbabwean authorities to do more to bring the missing persons home.
It is difficult to accept that the government and all the powerful State security organs cannot account for the whereabouts of Itai, Paul and Patrick," reads the statement.
"Because every government has responsibilities over its citizens' lives, among which is to ensure them fundamental rights, ZLHR calls upon Zimbabwean authorities to do more in challenging the forces creating an unacceptable and unwarranted environment for fear and impunity to flourish in Zimbabwe through carrying out abductions and enforced disappearances."
ZLHR said as a member state to the UN and to end the barbaric practice of enforced disappearances, ZLHR calls on the government to take tangible measures to ensure that:
"The truth about the whereabouts of Nabanyama, Chizuze and Dzamara is established and revealed as a matter of urgency; Those responsible for these serious human rights violations are held accountable; Those disappeared and their families are afforded their own right to truth - the full reasons for their abduction, the exact identities of their abductors, and any relevant details that will enable them and members of their families to make informed decisions about their remedies," reads the statement.
"It ratifies, domesticates and implements provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances and the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and its Protocol to ensure full accountability of perpetrators and redress and rehabilitation to victims."
"Stop enforced disappearances now. Sign and ratify the convention now. Enact domestic laws criminality enforced disappearances. Truth and justice to all disappeared persons, their families, survivors and the whole of society now," ZLHR added.
Source - Byo24News
