Quotable Quotes: What they said about Itai Dzamara abduction

ACTING PRESIDENT EMMERSON MNANGAGWA

“I am very grateful for that question as it is of national interest. We are a democratic society and we believe every citizen of this country has the right to do what they want to do peacefully. Anybody in this country who commits a crime must account for the crime that is committed.”

“That is why we have institutions like the Zimbabwe Republic Police to deal with this. I can assure the House that it (the abduction) is a barbaric act and we want those responsible to come to book.”

MDC-T PRESIDENT MORGAN TSVANGIRAI

“The callous abduction of Itai Dzamara has come as a complete shock to me, to the MDC and to Zimbabweans at large.”

 “We are in no doubt as to the perpetrators of this abduction.

“We hold Mugabe and his regime responsible for this morbid and senseless act. The President, who is also AU and SADC chair, cannot preside over a country where innocent citizens get abducted and disappear.”

MAVAMBO/KUSILE/DAWN PRESIDENT SIMBA MAKONI

“Let’s all join those demonstrating for Itai’s safe return.”

“Is their (Mugabe’s government) silence, even their news media, a sign of guilt? We join other law abiding democrats in demanding his safe return. Govt and state security are duty bound to protect all citizens, even those opposed to the governing party.

“Clearly, Itai his movement touched a raw nerve. Abductions are methods of cowards. We condemn it in the strongest terms.”

EMBASSY OF CANADA

 “Canada is deeply concerned by the reported forced disappearance of Zimbabwean human rights activist Itai Dzamara on 9 March 2015.

 “We call upon the Government of Zimbabwe to shed light on the fate and whereabouts of Dzamara and secure his immediate release free of harm if he is being held unlawfully.”

EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION TO ZIMBABWE

 “The EU Delegation expresses its deep concern regarding the abduction on 9 March of human rights defender and leader of Occupy Africa Unity Square, Itai Dzamara.

The EU counts on the Government of Zimbabwe to take all necessary measures to ascertain Dzamara’s whereabouts, safeguard his wellbeing and accord him the full protection of the law, within its overall responsibilities of ensuring the safety of all its citizens,’

Embassies of Norway and Switzerland associate themselves with the EU position.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (US) EMBASSY

“The U.S. Embassy notes with grave concern the reports of the forced disappearance of civil society activist Itai Dzamara on March 9, 2015.  We support Dzamara’s right to freedom of expression and to demonstrate peacefully.”

“We urge the relevant authorities to demonstrate their professionalism by fully investigating the circumstances surrounding Dzamara’s abduction.

YOUTH FORUM ZIMBABWE

“We urge the relevant authorities to demonstrate their professionalism by fully investigating the circumstances surrounding Dzamara’s abduction and accord him the full protection of the law.”

ZANU PF NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON SIMON KHAYA MOYO

“I do not even know the person in question (Itai Dzamara) but he (Mr Tsvangirai) is trying to find a case to please his masters because they have nothing to offer the people,” he said.

“He is trying to sell his party because they are short of what to talk about now after being drubbed in consecutive elections. They no longer talk about things such as their JUICE (MDC-T’s 2013 election manifesto)

CRISIS IN ZIMBABWE COALITION (CIZC)

“The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition appeals to Itai Dzamara’s abductors to immediately release Itai whose political and protest activities are protected by our constitution. The Coalition abhors arbitrary abductions, and pins the blame on the state, which covertly and overtly encourages these actions against perceived opponents, not least through the impunity that has been awarded perpetrators of such acts in the past.”

INFORMATION MINISTER JONATHAN MOYO

“Please ask Morgan Tsvangirai. I have said I do not have any information whatsoever about the matter and that’s my honest and final truth. Only Morgan Tsvangirai has spoken like he knows what happened. He should update those who want to know and assist the police.”

ZIMBABWE LAWYERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

“Dzamara is being held incommunicado from his family and lawyers. His detention is illegal and violates fundamental rights protected under the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”

DEPUTY HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER ZIYAMBI ZIYAMBI

“The government and all its arms which deal with such issues are busy working to resolve this issue.”

HERALD EDITOR CAESAR ZVAYI

“For The Record. If you know that Itai Dzamara was abducted, go to the police with the information, maybe then it may be news. I do not know him, so I do not know if he is missing or not. There are so many people who cry wolf in the so-called pro-democracy ranks. What concerns you does not necessarily have to concern me.”