CHURCHES and civil society groups in Harare have organised a second prayer meeting for missing journalist-cum-activist Itai Dzamara this weekend.
BY OBEY MANAYITI/JAIROS SAUNYAMA
Co-ordinator of the event, Bishop Ancelmo Magaya of the Zimbabwe Divine Destiny, said the meeting would be held in Chitungwiza on Saturday.
This comes amid mounting pressure from media houses, opposition parties, foreign diplomatic missions and human rights defenders on State security agents to intensify their search for Dzamara, who went missing five months ago.
The first meeting, held in June at Zimbabwe Grounds, Highfield, attracted a bumper crowd where opposition party leaders called on government to commit itself to finding him.
“Itai is not yet back and our take is there has to be an ongoing process which is meant to achieve two things. Firstly, we are appealing to God. When we pray there will be persistence in that manner ‘til what we want is done; and, secondly, this is going to be a nationwide campaign for the security of people in general,” Magaya said.
“What happened to Dzamara five months ago shows the security of people is not secured. We will go to every province and everyone is invited including political leaders.”
Dzamara family spokesperson Patson said:“We believe in the power of prayer and we know our God shall deliver Itai Dzamara. We are unwavering as far as our faith is concerned. All religious, civic society and political leaders of positive mindset for progress will gather together with us as we continue to demand Itai’s release.”
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In a statement yesterday, the United States embassy also expressed sadness over the police’s lack of progress in finding Dzamara.
“We join the European Union in their calls to the Zimbabwean authorities to mobilise their resources to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr Dzamara’s abduction, to accord Mr Dzamara the full protection of his fundamental human rights and freedoms, and to ensure that those responsible for his abduction are brought to justice,” the embassy said.
Meanwhile, MDC-T youths have threatened countrywide mass protests to pressure government to speed up the investigations.