EU Parliament invites Dzamara

The European Union Parliament has invited activist and anti-President Robert Mugabe protester Paston Dzamara to France, to present on civil movements and status of human rights in Zimbabwe this week.

The invitation comes amid rising concerns over escalating human rights violations in Zimbabwe, as police brutally attacked protesters in demonstrations against Mugabe's continued misrule.

It is also on the back of Dzamara being blocked by Parliament of Zimbabwe security from peacefully protesting against the continued abduction of his brother, Itai - who has been missing for 18 months - and the socio-economic and political situation in the country.

"The presentation I will make to the EU Parliament has everything to do with offering a panoramic overview regarding what is happening in Zimbabwe with special emphasis being attached to the emergence of the citizens' movement and its impact in Zimbabwe's development," Dzamara told the Daily News.

"Yes it's inevitable ( to talk about Itai). We can't talk about the citizens' movement without talking about Itai Dzamara. He is the forerunner of the current citizens' movement," he said.

Dzamara - together with other pressure groups - has been protesting against Mugabe's government, like Itai did until his abduction.

Moreover, he has been putting pressure on government to provide answers to the abduction of Itai, allegedly by State agents.

"I will never be silent until Itai is accounted for. I will never be silent until Zimbabwe is fixed," read Dzamara's placard as he conducted a one-man demonstration at Parliament.

Itai's disappearance, since March last year, resulted in red flags being raised by the international community concerning respect of human rights in Zimbabwe.

He founded the #OccupyAfricaUnitySquare campaign that demands Mugabe's immediate resignation.

This saw him being beaten and arrested by the police on several occasions, before he went missing.

Recently, Dzamara - together with other anti-Mugabe activists that include Sten Zvorwadza and exiled music star Thomas Mapfumo - were invited to the United Kingdom to mobilise Diasporans in bringing troubled Zimbabwe back in the international spotlight.