16 May 2020
16 May 2020
PRESS RELEASE
RE: ABUDUCTION OF MDC ALLIANCE OFFICIALS
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions(ZCTU) is horrified that once again another NAZI style kidnapping and abduction of opposition activists has taken place in Zimbabwe under the so called 'New Dispensation' and 'Second Republic'.
The kidnapping, abduction and torture of MDC Alliance Member of Parliament for Harare West Constituency Hon Joanna Mamombe together with The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Deputy Chair Cecilia Chimbiri, and MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Deputy Organiser Netsai Marova on Thursday 14 May 2020 is the latest in a series of barbaric events that have happened since President Mnangangwa took power in 2017 promising of a new era of tolerance, respect for human rights and freedoms.
Unfortunately things are going the opposite way because the country has seen arrests, abductions and torture of political activists, civic organisations leaders, trade unions and even artists who dared to oppose the current administration.
Suprising no one has been apprehended or questioned, giving credence to the theory that this is purely State sanctioned .
The ZCTU is convinced that the police have highly experienced personnel that is capable of investigating and bringing the perpetrators to book but are deliberately not making an effort for unknown reasons.
The three MDC Alliance activists are said to have suffered horrific abuse, including sexual abuse at the hands of their tormentors.
The modus operandi of the kidnappers seem to be the same for all their operations. This systematic pattern points to a well coordinated and centralised approach by a well trained team getting directives from the high echelons of power.
This is supported by the fact that the Zimbabwe Republic Police initially confirmed that they had arrested the MDC trio only to make a dramatic U-turn claiming that they do not know the whereabouts of the three.
These latest abductions and torture of the three MDC alliance activist is a testimony that we have not reformed to embrace diversity. We have remained with the old legacy that has brought us to be a pariah and authoritarian state. This is the legacy Zimbabweans endured during the Robert Mugabe era. We do not expect that citizens stopped at an official checkpoint and taken to a police station can dissapear and resurface brutalized in the bush.
The ZCTU condemns the abductions and demand an unfettered investigation into the matter by an independent team of investigators since the police have been paying lip service to these issues for a long time.
Japhet Moyo
SECRETARY GENERAL
SECRETARY GENERAL
