Ten years after Itai Dzamara’s disappearance, there are increased calls for accountability from the Zimbabwean government. Activists accuse the ruling Zanu PF party of complicity and demand transparency regarding Dzamara’s fate. Lawyers and former politicians stress the need for state accountability and ratification of relevant international conventions to combat enforced disappearances.
A decade after Itai Dzamara, a prominent human rights activist and journalist, disappeared, calls for accountability from the Zimbabwean government are intensifying. Despite activists’ insistence that the ruling Zanu PF party must answer for Dzamara’s abduction, the government’s silence remains notable. Dzamara was last seen on March 9, 2015, when he was reportedly forcibly taken by state security agents from his home in Harare, which has prompted demands for a comprehensive and transparent investigation.
Arnold Tsunga, an esteemed human rights lawyer, urges President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to disclose the reasons behind their inability to bring those responsible for Dzamara’s disappearance to justice. He highlights the profound impact this ongoing uncertainty has on the victim’s family and the wider implications it has for human rights in Zimbabwe, stating that it undermines public confidence in law enforcement and justice systems.
Former Zengeza West MP Job Sikhala maintains that the government possesses knowledge about Dzamara’s fate and carries a responsibility to inform the public. He emphasizes that safeguarding citizens is a fundamental duty of the state and reinforces the ongoing demand for clarity regarding Dzamara’s situation.
Obert Masaraure, president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, calls Zanu PF a terrorist organization and warns that those responsible for Dzamara’s abduction will ultimately face justice. This sentiment underscores the relentless pursuit for the return of Dzamara and accountability from those in power.
Attempts to gather responses from government officials, including Information Minister Jenfan Muswere and Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana, were unsuccessful. However, Zanu PF’s Director of Communication, Farai Marapira, rebuffed the claims of wrongdoing, asserting that allegations against his party lack evidence. He framed Zanu PF as a law-abiding entity, dismissing accusations of abduction as baseless and exploitative of family suffering.
Despite repeated calls for Zimbabwe to sign the United Nations International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the government has yet to act. The convention, aimed at addressing enforced disappearances, was established in 2006 but has not been ratified by Zimbabwe. Human rights lawyer Obey Shava is pursuing court action demanding the treaty’s ratification, arguing that the current administration must confront the systemic issue of enforced disappearances and human rights abuses.
The article highlights the ongoing pressure on the Zimbabwean government to address the unresolved case of Itai Dzamara, emphasizing the tragic impact on his family and the broader implications for human rights. Despite lack of governmental accountability and refusal to ratify international conventions against enforced disappearance, activists continue to demand justice. Efforts to disclose the truth regarding Dzamara’s fate are crucial for restoring public confidence in law enforcement and the justice system in Zimbabwe.
Original Source: www.newzimbabwe.com
