Army deny involvement in Dzamara abduction
By Helen Kadirire
Zimbabwe’s army, implicated in the abduction of journalist-turned-democracy activist Itai Dzamara, yesterday denied involvement in the social justice campaigner’s disappearance.
Patson Dzamara, a medical doctor and the younger brother of Itai, demanded that the military intelligence produces the prominent dissident of President Robert Mugabe who was kidnapped from a barber shop over a year ago and has been missing since.
Army spokesperson Alphios Makotore denied the Zimbabwe military intelligence’s involvement in Dzamara’s disappearance, saying it was a publicity stunt by the family.
This came after the Dzamara family released a sickening image of what it said was the missing social justice campaigner held in captivity by authorities.
The lieutenant colonel told the Daily News that claims by Patson were totally false and a figment of his own imaginations.
“The army intelligence does not take orders from any political party. Patson’s claims are just meant to seek media attention and mislead members of the public,” Makotore said.
Dzamara told a news conference on Tuesday: “I cannot at this juncture state my brother’s fate in the hands of these gangsters but I can categorically inform you that Itai Dzamara was abducted by the military intelligence under the direct instruction and supervision of Zanu PF.”
Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi was not available for comment as his mobile phone went unanswered all day and National Security minister Kembo Mohadi declined to comment, saying he was not in charge of military intelligence. Daily News
