Zimbabwe yesterday commemorated the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture at a time the whereabouts of activist Itai Dzamara remain unknown, 104 days after he was abducted by suspected State agents.
By Everson Mushava
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) condemned the widespread use of torture on innocent citizens and stands in solidarity with all victims of this heinous crime.
“More disconcerting is that Zimbabwe is marking UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture at a time when one of its citizens, Itai Dzamara, a pro-democracy activist and freelance journalist is missing after he was disappeared by some unidentified people in on 09 March 2015,” ZLHR said in a statement.
“So traumatising is the painful reality that the government and all the powerful State security organs cannot account for the whereabouts of Dzamara, almost four months after he disappeared. The situation of Dzamara is not only disheartening, but shocking as he remains unaccounted for, more than 100 days after he was disappeared.”
ZLHR said perpetrators of torture must understand that abduction and torture were an outdated, inhumane and ultimately ineffective practice that ruins the lives of innocent people.
Dzamara was abducted in March and up to now his whereabouts are unknown despite the High Court ordering the police to launch a manhunt for the missing activist.
Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission chairperson Elasto Mugwadi urged the government to quickly ratify the UN Convention Against Torture and domesticate it in order to address issues relating to torture.
