8 Zimbabweans on Interpol missing persons list

DESPITE clamours by the opposition, Western diplomats and civil society organisations over the whereabouts of MDC-T activist Itai Dzamara, eight Zimbabweans are on the International Police Organisation (Interpol) missing persons list.

These are Abel Chawatama (38), Ronnie Tapiwanashe (12), Nyasha Maponga (15), Raymond Matamike (46), Austin Bere (50), Tapiwa Chitsinde (30), Paul Chizuze (55) and James John Haliptflesch (57).

The numbers are estimated to be much higher than this.

However, not much attention has been directed to the eight and even three girls who went missing in Bulawayo recently.

Since Dzamara went missing on March 9 in Glen View 7, Harare, police have been updating the High Court on investigations and working closely with human rights lawyers in compliance with a recent court order. They have also put up a US$10 000 reward for anyone with key information.

But despite the concerted efforts, Dzamara's brother, Dr Patson Dzamara, told The Sunday Mail that the family was not "satisfied by the efforts made by the police so far".

Meanwhile, questions have been raised over why the MDC-T, French ambassador Mr Laurent Delahousse, some churches and civil society have been concentrating on Dzamara's disappearance alone when there are many other Zimbabweans whose whereabouts remain a mystery.

Last week, Government summoned Mr Delahousse after he accused officials of abducting Dzamara.

Ironically, statistics compiled by Cabinet Martin, a private detective agency in Cannes, France, indicate that every year, over 15 000 people disappear in that country without a trace. On the Interpol missing persons list, there are scores of French people including Cerf Claire (26), Chaibou Adoum Anass (18), Chagny Heloise (7) and Cheron Frederic (32), among others.

To worsen the situation, French law enforcement agencies no longer search for missing adults. Legal and Administrative Information Director for the Prime Minister's office, Laurent Touvetthe wrote on a government website that: "Taking into account the development of means of telecommunications and in particular the Internet, the number of (requests) ? in the interest of families has considerably dropped these last years, such that this (system has essentially devolved)."

This has prompted observers to question Mr Delahouse apparent activism on Dzamara's disappearance while back home an estimated 15 000 people are disappearing every year. On the other hand, the MDC-T has sought to rekindle its diminishing political prospects by hijacking the alleged disappearance of Dzamara in a frantic but futile bid to cause anarchy.

Questioned about his party's bid to profit from the issue, MDC-T spokesman Mr Obert Gutu denied hijacking the matter arguing that "even if a Zanu-PF member or activist is abducted, we will make noise against human rights abuses".

MDC-T MP for Bulawayo East Thabitha Khumalo, whose phone number allegedly appeared on Dzamara's call log, said she had nothing to do with the case.

"Dzamara is an activist and I am an MP, I represent the people and it's not a crime to receive a call or a message from any Zimbabwean," she said.

Asked if her party had made similar noise on the disappearance of the three Bulawayo girls, the legislator said the circumstances were different.

"The girls' disappearance is a serious cause for concern but children's rights' activists should make more noise. However, these girls were not activists like Dzamara, hence the varying levels of concern," said Ms Khumalo. Police say Dzamara was allegedly abducted by three male adults who entered a barbershop owned by Wellington Deketeke, and advised him that he was under arrest for stock theft.

He was bundled into a white Nissan Hard Body double cab whose vehicle registration number was only captured as ABB2, the last digits were not visible.