The Canadian Embassy in Zimbabwe has expressed disappointment at government’s efforts to locate the missing journalist cum activist, Itai Dzamara, who was allegedly abducted in Harare over three months ago.
Dzamara has been missing for over 100 days and his family, opposition political parties and human rights organisations have been putting pressure on government to locate him, after he was reportedly abducted at gun point in Harare’s Glen View suburb.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the embassy said there were deeply concerned about Dzamara’s health and safety.
“It has now been 100 days since the forced disappearance of Zimbabwean human rights activist Itai Dzamara on March 9, 2015.
“Canada remains deeply concerned for Mr. Dzamara’s health and safety, troubled that to date no information has been forthcoming as to his condition or whereabouts, and disappointed that the Government of Zimbabwe has not done more to communicate its efforts to find him and bring to justice those responsible for his disappearance,” read the statement.
The embassy also urged government to worker harder at locating the missing activist.
“We call on the Government of Zimbabwe to redouble its efforts in determining the fate and whereabouts of Itai Dzamara and to provide regular reports to the public—and more importantly to his family—about the progress of its investigation.
“While Canada recognises Zimbabwe’s efforts to re-engage with the international community, this engagement must be accompanied by the Government of Zimbabwe’s tangible demonstration that it is seeking to protect the human rights of its citizens as guaranteed in the country’s 2013 constitution,” the embassy said.
Before going missing, Dzamara had launched a series of demonstrations at Africa Unity Square, where he called on long-time leader President Robert Mugabe to step down from his post.
Dzamara also addressed an MDC-T rally where he called on mass protests against the government for the worsening economic conditions in the country.
