Legislators, Tuesday, demanded an update from Home Affairs Minister, Kazembe Kazembe on police investigations into the disappearance of journalist and opposition activist, Itai Dzamara.
Dzamara who is believed to have been abducted by the state security agents disappeared in 2015 in Harare during former president Robert Mugabe’s era and has not been located to date.
Feeling the heat from the international community, the government said it would investigate the issue and bring it to finality.
Raising a point of national importance in the National Assembly Kambuzuma legislator, Willias Madzimure said the government still owes Parliament an update on the Dzamara case.
“Every Zimbabwean national has a democratic right to be protected by the law to move freely around the country,” said Madzimure.
“On the 15th March, 2015, a certain man who was a reporter and used to write, Itai Dzamara, was taken by unknown people and this issue was taken up to government structures and government communicated that they were investigating the disappearance. The Honourable Minister came to this august House and promised the House that investigations were in progress, so they ascertain his whereabouts, but until now there is no feedback to the august House.”
He said Dzamara’s family was yet to find closure to the issue seven years down the line.
“The Dzamara family is still in pain because in our traditions, there are things that should be done when a person is lost or that person is dead because the issue is still within the hands of the police and the government,” he said.
“The family does not have closure regarding their child and for them to have closure there must be communication as to whether Itai Dzamara disappeared for good or what happened. So, like what the Minister of Home Affairs promised, there must be an explanation regarding the investigations.”
He added: “There must be a statement to this august House to communicate to the nation and the Dzamara family that Dzamara is dead so that when his children need birth certificates and assistance, the family should seek assistance knowing that the investigations were completed.”
Madzimure said Kazembe had not honoured his promise to bring a ministerial statement on the Dzamara issue.
Norton lawmaker, Temba Mliswa weighed in saying the government should just comply with the laws of the country and give an update on the issue.
“There is actually a court order, if I am not mistaken, which says we must be updated from time to time,” said Mliswa.
“So, it is really in compliance with the court order. The Minister has not been able to comply with the court order because this is a matter of national interest which went before the courts. The Minister has got to comply with the court order.”
He added: “It is not a matter of even asking him to do us a favour but he is complying with the laws of the country. So, maybe if he needs to be reminded about it that there is a court order to that, I think he would also realise that he cannot be seen to be in contempt. It is a very serious issue, inofanira kupera nyaya yacho nokuti vari kuramba vachichema,tisingazivi kuti munhu mupenyu kana kuti haasi mupenyu.”
In her response, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Tsitsi Gezi said Kazembe would be reminded to come and update the august House.
