Opinion / Columnist
The EU appears to know where Dzamara is
25 May 2015 at 09:42hrs | Views
The European Union on Thursday is said to have directed the Zimbabwean government to immediately find Itai Dzamara. That sounds like a threat, doesn't it?
Although the EU has shown eagerness to re-engage the government of Zimbabwe, that does not give it the express right to bully Zimbabwe.
The government of Zimbabwe has expressed concern over the disappearance of Dzamara, a journalist- cum-activist whom the Zanu-PF government had no issues with whatsoever. The EU appears to know where Dzamara is. It would help everybody if the bloc provides a lead on this issue.
The government is doing its best to find him in compliance with a High Court directive.
The disappearance of Dzamara cannot be used by the EU to achieve its selfish interests. The circumstances surrounding the disappearance are not known. The perpetrators of the suspected abduction are not known as well.
In such circumstances, it becomes very unfair of EU to blame Zimbabwean authorities. The government has so many pressing issues that it cannot be in the know of everything that takes place at every corner of the country that covers a total area of 150 871 square miles, with a population of over 13 million people.
It sounded rude but Professor Jonathan Moyo told the truth when he said people disappear everyday through our porous borders. There are many possible scenarios to this disappearance. Of course, he might have skipped the border just like other Zimbabweans. He might have been abducted on a purely criminal motive. He might have holed himself somewhere as a political gimmick to cause alarm and despondency.
The EU and the US might be falling for a hoax. It is therefore prudent for the EU and the US to react to the Dzamara issue with this in mind, lest they draw themselves into embarrassment. This is not to say the government is not concerned The police is doing its best to find Dzamara and the West must give them a chance.
Although the EU has shown eagerness to re-engage the government of Zimbabwe, that does not give it the express right to bully Zimbabwe.
The government of Zimbabwe has expressed concern over the disappearance of Dzamara, a journalist- cum-activist whom the Zanu-PF government had no issues with whatsoever. The EU appears to know where Dzamara is. It would help everybody if the bloc provides a lead on this issue.
The government is doing its best to find him in compliance with a High Court directive.
In such circumstances, it becomes very unfair of EU to blame Zimbabwean authorities. The government has so many pressing issues that it cannot be in the know of everything that takes place at every corner of the country that covers a total area of 150 871 square miles, with a population of over 13 million people.
It sounded rude but Professor Jonathan Moyo told the truth when he said people disappear everyday through our porous borders. There are many possible scenarios to this disappearance. Of course, he might have skipped the border just like other Zimbabweans. He might have been abducted on a purely criminal motive. He might have holed himself somewhere as a political gimmick to cause alarm and despondency.
The EU and the US might be falling for a hoax. It is therefore prudent for the EU and the US to react to the Dzamara issue with this in mind, lest they draw themselves into embarrassment. This is not to say the government is not concerned The police is doing its best to find Dzamara and the West must give them a chance.
Source - John Sigauke
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