Patson Dzamara arrested twice in one day for leading demonstration

By Jonga Kandemiiri

Police in Harare on Monday disrupted a planned prayer meeting for missing political activist Itai Dzamara who was abducted 14 months ago by suspected state security agents.

Friends and relatives of the missing activist had gathered at Africa Unity Square, Dzamara’s demonstration site, for a Morning Prayer and protest when police pounced on Patson Dzamara and took him to a local post where he was detained for 40 minutes before releasing him.

Dzamara said, “Something that struck me happened whilst they were leading me away (is that) the protesters, relatives and the friends who had come to commemorate the day with us actually followed and they were singing that song ‘Senzeni na’, asking what wrong have we done for us to be treated like that.”

Dzamara returned to Africa Unity Square to address the crowd when the police re-arrested him together with Pastor Patrick Mugadza. The two were detained at Harare Central Police Station and released after three hours without any charges laid against them.

Dzamara said though they failed to go ahead with their planned demonstration Monday, they will gather again Tuesday at the same venue.

“We are regrouping tomorrow and the agenda is still the same, we are demanding the release of Itai, at the same time drawing a line in the sand regarding forced disappearances.”

He added that there were registering their displeasure at the way the country is being run.

Studio 7 failed to get a comment from the police.

Itai Dzamara was abducted outside a barbershop in Harare’s Glenview suburb on March 9, 2015, and ever since date no one has heard from him or about his whereabouts. VOA Studio 7