Tsvangirai visits family of abducted activist

By Staff Reporter

HARARE – Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday visited the family of Itai Dzamara, a journalist turned activist who was abducted by suspected state security agents two weeks ago.

Tsvangirai accompanied by his spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka and several party officials went to the high-density suburb of Glen View in Harare and met Dzamara’s brother, Patson, his mother, wife and children and told them the party stood in solidarity with them “in this sad hour.”

The MDC leader urged the family to continue to place their faith in God and narrated how he was also abducted in almost similar circumstances and spent three weeks without anyone knowing of his whereabouts. Tsvangirai only resurfaced at a police station after three weeks of brutal torture and harassment.

Tsvangirai also visited the barbershop where Dzamara was abducted. The barber narrated how two men arrived in a car with a folded number plate. He said they stormed the shop, identified themselves as police and accused Dzamara of stock-theft before they handcuffed him and bundled him into their car.

The MDC leader said it was ironic that the Mugabe regime was saying it was the MDC that abducted Dzamara when in fact; he was arrested by people who identified themselves as police. He said the MDC held the Mugabe government culpable and responsible for “the whole sordid saga.”

In October last year Dzamara was arrested after he called on Mugabe to step down in a petition that was delivered to the presidential Munhumutapa Offices. Africa Unity Square is a few blocks away from Mugabe’s offices. Since then he has been arrested, assaulted and tortured several times for his ongoing protest.

In November Dzamara was admitted to a Harare hospital alongside human rights lawyer Kennedy Masiye after both sustained serious injuries from brutal assaults by more than 20 police officers who disrupted their protest.

Last month Nehanda Radio had the privilege of interviewing Dzamara and asked him how he would like to be remembered: Below was his answer:

“For having made a contribution – to the best of my ability, genuinely and sincerely – towards the creation of a better Zimbabwe. Where people enjoy their freedoms and with dignity. Where leaders are accountable and answerable to the people. where the resources and wealth benefit and uplift the lives of all.

“Where elections are fair and credible contests of ideas and policies. Lastly, a Zimbabwe that coexists and competes with the rest of the world, favourably, viably and in harmony.”