Abducted Patson Dzamara found at the Avenues Clinic – PICTURES

State security agents abducted and beat up pro-democracy activist Patson Dzamara ahead of a demonstration against bond notes in Zimbabwe.

According to reports from fellow activists, Dzamara was abducted by plain clothed state security agents around the area of Mukonohono and Glen Eagles Roads in Harare.

Patson, the brother of missing activist, Itai Dzamara, was later found at the Avenues Clinic in Harare. Two vehicles belonging to Dzamara and Ishmael Kauzani were burnt to ashes.

Police started cracking down when they raided offices in town in search of Dzamara and Sten Zvorwadza on Thursday in the afternoon ahead of a demonstration against the introduction of bond notes that has been set for today (Friday) in the capital Harare.

Dzamara, Kauzani and Zvorwadza, who were shuttling from one safe house to another, were reportedly ambushed by between 12 and 14 men in three twin-cab vehicles.

Several of these men were wearing police clothes, while others were plain clothed.

“As [the activists] were running out of the vehicles, the men started beating them up, took Patson and shoved him into another vehicle and continued to beat up the other guys,” activist Promise Sande confirmed in an interview with the International Business Times. 

The IBT report said “Kauzani claimed that several rounds of bullet shots were fired as the activists tried to run away. Zvorwadza and Kauzani, whose car was torched, were “badly beaten” but both men managed to escape.

Sande alleged that uniformed men “tried to shove some of the guys [activists] into the burning cars.” Another activist who was in the vehicle with the movement leaders was reportedly missing a front tooth. Nehanda Radio