Today, November 9, 2015 marks nine months since the mysterious disappearance of human rights activist, Itai Dzamara who was allegedly abducted by State security agents on March 9, 2015 in his Glen Norah suburb of Harare.
Dzamara, through his Occupy Africa Unity Square (OAUS) campaign held protests calling on President Robert Mugabe to resign on the grounds that he had failed the nation through misrule.
After nine months of local and international outcry, and despite a High Court order compelling the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to search for the missing critic of President Mugabe, the police continue to profess ignorance over the whereabouts of Dzamara.
As Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CIZC), we are greatly concerned about the safety of Dzamara and our worst fear is that Dzamara’s name could add to the list of activists like Patrick Nabanyama, Shepherd Mashizha and Paul Chizuze who were allegedly kidnapped by state security agents and have not been accounted for.
Dzamara’s continued disappearance has revealed the government’s utter disregard for citizens’ right to life as enshrined in Section 48 of Zimbabwe’s constitution.
Zimbabwe’s constitution has a rich Bill of Rights yet government has clearly exhibited lack of political will to implement the new charter and safeguard people’s fundamental human rights.
CiZC calls upon the government of Zimbabwe to move with urgency in implementing the new constitution as well as to respect people’s fundamental rights outlined under the country’s Declaration of Rights.
Section 44 of the country’s constitution obliges “every institution and agency of the government at every level” to respect, protect, promote and fulfill people’s constitutional rights.
We hold the view that security of persons is a critical component of a democratic society and Dzamara’s issue has created the need for collective action from Zimbabweans to safeguard their rights and hold the government to account.
It should be the collective responsibility of human rights organisations and likeminded Zimbabweans at large to use remedies provided for by the constitution as far as pushing the government to respect people’s fundamental rights is concerned.
According to Section 59 (1) of Zimbabwe’s constitution; “every person has the right to demonstrate and to present petitions, but these rights may be exercised peacefully”.
Moreover, it is the duty of every Zimbabwean citizen to ensure the State respects and upholds the constitution.
